“And Adam knew Eve his wife; who conceived and brought forth Cain, saying: I have gotten a man through God.”
Man’s nature, the estate of marriage, and God’s blessing were not utterly abolished through sin, but the quality or condition thereof was changed. That is, according to the Lord’s promise, as Gen. 3:15 , some read, To the Lord, as rejoicing for the son which she had born, whom she would offer to the Lord as the firstfruits of her birth.
“And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord.”
This declareth that the father instructed his children in the knowledge of God, and also how God gave them sacrifices to signify their salvation, albeit they were destitute of the sacrament of the tree of life.
“But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was exceeding angry, and his countenance fell.”
Because he was an hypocrite, and offered only for an outward show without sincerity of heart.
“If thou do well, shalt thou not receive? but if ill, shall not sin forthwith be present at the door? but the lust thereof shall be under thee, and thou shalt have dominion over it.”
The dignity of the firstborn is given to Cain over Abel. Both thou and thy sacrifice shall be acceptable to me. Sin shall still torment thy conscience.
“And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and slew him.”
Matt. 23:35 ; 1 John 3:11 ; Jude 11
“And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he answered: I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?”
This is the nature of the reprobate when they are reproved of their hypocrisy, even to neglect God and despite him.
“And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the earth.”
God revengeth the wrongs of his Saints, though none complain: for the iniquity itself crieth for vengeance.
“Now therefore cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand.”
The earth shall be a witness against thee, which mercifully received that blood which thou most cruelly sheddest.
“When thou shalt till it, it shall not yield to thee its fruit: a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth.”
Thou shalt never have rest: for thine heart shall be in continual fear and care.
“And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve pardon.”
Or, my sin is greater than can be pardoned. He burdeneth God as a cruel judge because he did punish him so sharply.
“Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face I shall be hid, and I shall be a vagabond and a fugitive on the earth: every one therefore that findeth me, shall kill me.”
Hebrew, from off the face of .
“And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not so be: but whosoever shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him.”
Not for the love he bare to Cain, but to suppress murder. Which was some visible sign of God’s judgment, that others should fear thereby.
“And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and brought forth Henoch: and he built a city, and called the name thereof by the name of his son Henoch.”
Thinking thereby to be sure, and to have less occasion to fear God’s judgments against him.
“Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other Sella.”
The lawful institution of marriage, which is, that two should be one flesh, was first corrupted in the house of Cain by Lamech.
“And Lamech said to his wives Ada and Sella: Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech: for I have slain a man to the wounding of myself, and a stripling to my own bruising.”
His wives seeing that all men hated him for his cruelty, were afraid, therefore he braggeth that there is none so lusty that were able to resist, although he were already wounded.
“Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech seventy times sevenfold.”
He mocked at God’s sufferance in Cain, jesting as though God would suffer none to punish him and yet give him license to murder others.
“But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos: this man began to call upon the name of the Lord.”
In these days God began to move the hearts of the godly to restore religion, which a long time by the wicked had been suppressed.