Fu-st, Let us take notice of his dying— 'He being dead.' The history is in Genesis. There were probably two causes of the murder; one plainly expressed in scripture, the envy of Cain; the other implied — that is, indignation against the reproof of Abel.
First, One cause is plainly expressed. God accepted Abel ; he had a better offering, and therefore Cain slew him : 1 John iii. 12, ' Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother ; and where- fore slew he him ? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.' The note is this —
Doct. 1. Persecution usually ariseth from envy.
Men malign what they will not imitate ; when others are holier than their interest and vile affections will give them leave, therefore they hate them. Our Lord himself was delivered for envy : Mat. xxvii. 18, ' Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered him ; ' his disciples sold him out of covetousness, and his enemies persecuted him out of envy.
To apply this let us hate this sin with the more indignation. Alas ! we are apt to envy each other's gifts, esteem sancity, and grace ; from thence arise contentions and quarrels, and they end in blood. The first man that ever died in the world was slain and murdered by envy. Pride gave us the first merit of death, and envy the first instance of it : Gen. xxxvii. 11, ' His brethren envied him ;' they envied Joseph, and then conspired his death. Envy may be impeached as the cause of most of the blood that hath been spilt in the world; that is the reason why envying and murder are so often joined together, Gal. iv. 2L
Secondly, The second cause is implied — viz., indignation at reproof :
VeR. -i. J sermons upon HEBREWS XI. 31
Gen. iv. 8, ' And Cain talked with Abel his brother ;' what their talk was we find not. The hint is —
Doct. 2. Another cause of persecution is indignation at reproofs.
The world would fain sleep quietly in sin, and com[)lain that these bawling preachers trouble their sinful rest. When a man holds out the testimony of Jesus, he torments and troubles them : Eev. xi. 10, ' The witnesses tormented the dwellers upon eartli ; ' their testimony was the world's torment.
Use 1. It teacheth us to bear it the more patiently: James v. 10, ' Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience.' Did you ever hear of any that spake in the name of the Lord, and the world not hate them ? The cross is very kindly to our rank and order ; Abel, that is but now a priest, presently is made a martyr.
Use 2. Bear reproof patiently. Storming at reproof is the cause of that hatred that is against the ministry: Jer. vi. 10, ' The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach ; when he came to reprove, they thought he had railed.'
From the murder itself — ' He slew his brother.'
Doct. 1. Hatred of the power of godliness began betimes.
There is an old prediction : Gen. iii. 15, ' I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.' There are two parties that will never be reconciled. And here are two brothers, one of them the seed of the woman, and the other the seed of the serpent ; though they were brothers, came of the same womb, and brothers of the same birth as is conceived. The apostle speaks of two other brothers of the same father, one persecuted the other : Gal. iv. 29, ' As then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, so it is now.' And in all ages of the world we may sa}', ' So it is now ; ' and so it will be for ever : this is the old hatred.
Then consider Abel's death, not only as the death of a saint, but as the death of a brother. The note will be —
Doct. 2. The strife of brethren usually ends in blood, or in sad and dreadful accidents.
Solomon saith, Prov. xviii. 19, 'A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city ; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.' You may as soon surprise a strong city barred, as gain an offended brother. It is a hint useful to those families where discord arisetli by reason of difference in religion. Difference in brothers is like a rent made in the whole cloth ; a seam may easily be sewn, but a rent in the whole cloth cannot ; the nearer the union, usually the greater rent. A Spanish preacher that embraced the Eeformation was slain by his own brother. Some may be restrained by the severity of laws ; but in times of public tumult there have been many such sad instances among nearest relations.
It followeth, ' yet speaketh.' Consider it under a twofold regard, as the common murder of a man, or as the murder of a saint.
First, As the murder of a man ; this was a murder done in secret, yet Abel's blood speaks to God, that is, God took notice of the fact though past human cognisance. The note is —