As Abel was evidently in favour with GOD, we cannot suppose, that he was abandoned to the rage of his brother as a punishment; on the contrary, we may regard his early death, in reference to Providence, as a mark of the Divine approbation; and may reasonably conclude, that as he testified a true faith, he was after death received into a better world.

The Scripture is silent in respect to the sorrow of Adam and Eve on this mournful occasion; but, without doubt, it must have been a great affliction to them, to lose a beloved son by the unnatural hand of his own brother; and to have the offender condemned to drag on a wretched life, under the displeasure of God, and the contempt of mankind; and the sorrow of Adam was certainly greatly aggravated by the reflection, that he had brought Death upon the human race. In respect to the mark that was set upon Cain, there is no certainty; but some learned authors think, that the verse which mentions it is not exactly translated, and that it should be rendered, set a mark before Cain; that is, wrought some miracle or sign, to assure him that he should not be slain: however it was, it will answer no purpose to puzzle ourselves with such questions as these, which are merely matter of curiosity, as none of Cain's posterity are now remaining in the world.

Though none of the children of Adam and Eve are mentioned by their names in the Bible, excepting Cain, Abel, and Seth, it is certain that they had others before the murder of Abel, because we read of Cain's wife,, who must have been the daughter of Adam and Eve. According to calculations that have been made, it is probable, that, by the time Adam was 130 years old, there might be of his children, grand-children, and great grand-children, a great number of people in the

world.

world*. Seth is particularly mentioned, because, from him was to descend, in a regular succession, the SAVIOUR of mankind, the promised seed of the woman.

At the end of this section we read, that after the birth of Enos, men began to call themselves by the name. of the LORD; from this expression, compared with the beginning of Section vii. we are led to think, that all those, who believed in the Divine Promises solemnly devoted themselves to the service of the LORD, and expressed their Faith by offering the sacrifices which he had appointed; on which account the LORD God adopted them as His sons, sanctified and assisted them by his HOLY SPIRIT, and gave them a title to the heavenly inheritance intended to be purchased for the human race, by the Restorer of Righteousness.

Much practical instruction may be collected from this history of Cain and Abel. In the first place, we may infer from it, that the public prayers (which are now in the place of the sacrifices) are not acceptable to GoD from persons who harbour hatred and malice in their minds. We may also learn, that wicked actions, however secretly committed, cannot be hidden from God; nd that the SUPREME BEING Himself is the avenger of murder, and will bring it to light by some means or other; or at least will not suffer a murderer to know. that inward peace which arises from a quiet conscience The fear and dread of discovery alone must have been a continual torment to him, and will compel him to flee from place to place. We are likewise taught, that to be driven from the face of the LORD, or to be cut off from the society of God's people, and deprived of the blessing of communion with GOD, in social worship, as

* See Stackhouse on the Bible.

a murderer

a murderer must necessarily be, is the greatest punishment that can be inflicted.

Brothers and Sisters are particularly instructed by this portion of Scripture, to cherish from their early years an affectionate attachment to each other, which, by its endearments, will prove a source of continual comfort and pleasure; by repeated acts of kindness they may secure to themselves a set of faithful, disinterested friends, ready on all occasions to do them good offices; and they will have the additional satisfaction of increasing the felicity of their parents. But those, who indulge selfishness of mind, and are continually studying how to obtain a preference to themselves, and are envious of the superior advantages of their brothers and sisters, commit great offence against God, are enemies to society, by destroying the peace of families, and cannot expect to be esteemed or beloved.

SECTION V.

THE GENEALOGY FROM ADAM, IN THE LINE OF SETH, TO THE TIME OF THE DELUGE.

From Genesis, Chap. v.

THIS is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him: male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

:

ADAM lived an hundred and thirty years, and had a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name SETH and the days of Adam after the birth of Seth, were eight hundred years: and he had sons and daughters: and all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

And SETH lived an hundred and five years, and had ENOS and Seth lived after the birth of Enos eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters:

and

and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

And Enos lived ninety years, and had CAINAN: and Enos lived after the birth of Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters: and the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

And CAINAN lived seventy years, and had MAHALALEEL and Cainan lived after the birth of Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters: and all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

And MAHALALEEL lived sixty and five years, and had JARED: and Mahalaleel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters: and all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

And JARED lived an hundred sixty and two years, and had ENOCH: and Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters: and all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

And ENOCH lived sixty and five years, and had METHUSELAH: and Enoch walked with GoD after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with GOD: and he was not; for God took him.

And METHUSELAH lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and had LAMECH: and Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and had sons and daughters and all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty nine years: and he died.

And LAMECH lived an hundred eighty and two years, and had a son: and he called his name NOAH, saying,

This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. And Lamech lived after the birth of Noahr five hundred ninety and five years, and had sons and daughters: and all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy and seven years: and he died. And NOAH was five hundred years old: and Noah had three sons, SHEM, HAM, and JAPHETH.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

The design of this section is to shew the regular descent from Adam to Noah, with a view to preserve the genealogy of the promised seed.

The generations of Adam signify his children, grandchildren, and all who proceeded from him in the line of SETH, that son of his from whom the Redeemer of the world was to proceed. We find that the CREATOR called each of the first human pair by one common name, ADAM, which signified MAN; it was the first man that called his wife Woman, to denote that she belonged to mankind, and afterwards gave her the proper name of EVE, which has served to distinguish her from all other women. In the first verse of this section it is said, that God created man in his own Image, but it is said of Seth that he was the likeness or Image of Adam: from which we may understand, that there was a great alteration in human nature in consequence of the Fall. What is to be understood by the Image of GoD, has been already explained; this Divine Image was defaced by sin. Adam was a sinner, subject to pain, sorrow, and death: his children being in his image, were just such creatures as himself, excepting that they were innocent of his particular offence, but they partook of the corruption of his nature.

We do not read that Adam and Eve were guilty of

any