interior life, and the exercise of these qualities are denoted by the occupation of each. Abel is a keeper of sheep, or shepherd of the flock; and Cain, a tiller of the ground. In Scripture language, a shepherd is one who leads the flock of Christ from a principle of love and charity, to all that is pure, holy, and true. The idea of feeding the flock, as well as leading, is also involved in the occupation of a shepherd. It is love or charity, denoted by the name Abel, that is the keeper and feeder of the sheep, or of those who humbly desire, from a love of holiness, to be guided into all truth. The Lord, by love, leads all in the paths of righteousness. Hence David exclaims, "Jehovah is my Shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm xxiii. 1.) The worship springing from love and charity, is a worship from the heart, in which the inmost affections of the soul are engaged; and this is the offering of Abel: and because such offering brings down celestial blessings into the very soul of the worshipper, the Lord has respect to it; for he is said to be pleased when man is blest.
Cain is called a tiller of the ground. In ancient times those were said to till the ground, who, whilst they observed an outward form of faith and religion, regarded chiefly corporeal and terrestrial things. Thus faith without charity, denoted by the name Cain, notwithstanding all outward professions, is worldly-minded and sensual, desiring its own and not another's good. Worship from faith alone is a kind of lip worship, in which the heart is not engaged. It is Cain's offering, dead and worthless, to which the Lord, in his mercy, can have no respect, because it brings down to the worshipper no blessings from heaven.
