VeR. 12.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. ^ 97
SERMON XVIir.
Not as Cain, loho loas of that luickecl one, and sleio his brother. And loherefore sleiv he him f Because his own ivorks taere evil, and his brothers righteous. — 1 John iii. 12.
The apostle having urged the precept of brotherly love, now speaketh of the contrary, which is hatred to the power of godliness, and of this by way of instance and example. This instance is fitly chosen —
1. As being a most eminent example, or an early discovery of the malignity of corrupt nature. Therefore Tertullian calleth Cain the patriarch of unbelievers. Enmity to religion began betimes, and the world keepeth its old wont, then, and now, and ever. Those that will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect troubles, 2 Tim, iii. 12.
2. As best to represent the tragical effects of envy and hatred. When once brotherly love faileth, there is nothing so bad and cruel which you may not be drawn to do against your brethren ; for corrupt nature is cruelly bent against all that stand in the way of our esteem and desires. When once a brother is represented as an enemy, if it be in the power of our hands, what will we think unlawful to be acted against him ? If malice be curbed and restrained, we seek to draw those in with us who have power to serve our private quarrels and ]'evenges ; and hatred given way to will not be slaked without blood and ruin.
3. It showeth that devouring malice is the true devilish nature: 'Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one.' It was one of OEcolampa- dius' observations in a sermon to the children of ]5asil, that the ordinary pictures of God and Satan were in good books for the instruc- tion of children either in the nature of God or Satan. The truest re- presentation that can be made of God to children should be to teach them what truth is, what mercy is, what love is, what goodness is, for this is God ; and the best picture that can be taken of Satan would be the true characters of malice, falsehood, envy, and hatred. God is love, God is mercy, God is goodness ; but falsehood, envy, and hatred, and cruelty are natural to the old serpent : ' Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.'
In the words observe — (1.) Cain's fact ; (2.) The reason of it.
1. His fact, ' He slew his brother.'
2. The reason. In this latter, one reason is expressed, viz., contra- riety of practice ; acerbissima sunt odia ex diversitate morum. The other implied envy at God's favour to him, for envy soon runneth into malice.
First reason. Abel is seldom spoken of in scripture, but he is hon- oured with the title of righteous : Mat. xxiii. 33, ' From the blood of righteous Abel.' So Heb. xi. 4, * By which he obtained witness that he was righteous.'
Second reason. Envy at God's favour : Gen. iv. 4, ' God had re- spect to Abel and his offering.' It must be known by some visible token, for thereupon Cain's countenance fell, and in his wrath and envy he slow his brother. Some say, as Claudius MariuS; that the smoke of
VOL. XXI. G
98 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XVIII.
Cain's sacrifice went downward to the earth, and Abel's upward to heaven ; others say other things, but without any clear warrant. Pro- bably the sign was fire coming down from heaven, and consuming Abel's sacrifice to ashes. The apostle tellethus, ' God testified of his gifts,' Heb. xi. 4. Theodosius saith, Surely this was the sign of God's favourable acceptation afterwards : Ps. xx. 3, ' The Lord accept thy burnt-offer- ings ; ' in the margin it is, ' turn to ashes.' So Lev, ix. 24, * At Aaron's sacrifice there came a fire out from the Lord, and consumed the burnt- offering, and the fat' So in Elijah's contest with Baal's priests : 1 Kings xviii. 38, ' Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trencL' So in Gideon's sacrifice : Judges vi. 21, ' And there rose up a fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh.' So Manoah's sacrifice : Judges xiii. 20, ' The flame went up towards heaven, and the angel ascended in the flame.' So 1 Chron. xxi. 26, ' The Lord answered Pavid by fire from heaven on the burnt-offering.' Doct. That there is such a sin as antipathy against the power of godliness, or a hatred of others because of their strictness in the service of God, and diligence in heavenly things.
1. I shall give you instances of this in the word of God.
2. Some discoveries of this malignity.
3. The reasons of it.
I. Instances of it from scripture. The world's hatred is disguised under other pretences. Now what doth the word of God say ? The word of God doth tell us doctrinally that it is so, and giveth instances and examples of it.
1. Doctrinally that it is so : let us take notice of that place which describeth the first rise of it : Gen. iii. 15, ' I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.' There is a natural enmity between the two seeds, as there is between a wolf and a lamb.