It is not to be doubted but _Adam_ and _Eve_ understood this promise in this sense; for it is plain, in the latter part of the chapter, sacrifices were instituted. From whence should those skins come, but from beasts slain for sacrifice, of which GOD made them coats? We find _Abel_, as well as _Cain_, offering sacrifice in the next chapter: and the Apostle tells us, he did it by faith, no doubt in this promise. And _Eve_, when _Cain_ was _born_, said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD;” or, (as Mr. _Henry_ observes, it may be rendered) “I have gotten a man,――the Lord,――the promised Messiah.” Some further suppose, that _Eve_ was the first believer; and therefore they translate it thus, “The seed, (not of the, but) of this woman:” which magnifies the grace of GOD so much the more, that she, who was first in the transgression, should be the first partaker of redemption. _Adam_ believed also, and was saved: for unto _Adam_ and his wife did the LORD GOD make coats of skins, and cloathed them: which was a remarkable type of their being clothed with the righteousness of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
This promise was literally fulfilled in the person of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Satan bruised his heel, when he tempted him for forty days together in the wilderness: he bruised his heel, when he raised up strong persecution against him during the time of his public ministry: he in an especial manner bruised his heel, when our LORD complained, that his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, and he sweat great drops of blood falling upon the ground, in the garden: He bruised his heel, when he put it into the heart of _Judas_ to betray him: and he bruised him yet most of all, when his emissaries nailed him to an accursed tree, and our LORD cried out, “My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me?” Yet, in all this, the blessed JESUS, the seed of the woman, bruised Satan’s accursed head: for, in that he was tempted, he was able to succour those that are tempted. By his stripes we are healed. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. By dying, he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. He thereby spoiled principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them upon the cross.