What could he imagine, when he thus flatly denied any know- ledge of his brother? Did he suppose that he could deceive his God? Had he forgotten, that omniscience was an attri- bute essential to the Deity ? Yes : such is the atheism which sin produces : he said in his heart, " Tush, God hath not seen : Can he see through the thick clouds"?" Not contented with uttering this impious falsehood, he added an insult, which we should scarcely have thought he would have dared to offer to his earthly parent, much less to his Maker and his God. Be- hold this murderous wretch presuming to criminate his Judge, and to reprove him as unreasonable and unjust ! " Am I my brother's keeper ?" that is, ' What right hast thou to inter- rogate me respecting him ?' We stand amazed at this effort of impiety : but, in truth, it is no other than what is daily exemplified before our eyes. If we question men respecting the performance of any of their duties, they will not hesitate to condemn our expectations as unreasonable, and the laws on which they are founded, as absurd : and when the autho- rity of God is urged in support of his law, they will not scruple to arraign the wisdom and equity of the Lawgiver him- self. The very manner in which Cain attempted to conceal his crime was of itself a strong presumption against his inno- cence. What need had he to be offended with an inquiry after his brother, if he really knew not where he was ? What occasion was there for all this petulance and profaneness? But it was in vain to deny a fact which the all-seeing God was ready to attest °.]
2. His conviction before God —
[He had effectually silenced his brother's voice ; so that no testimony could be borne by him. But the blood which he had shed, had a voice, which cried aloud ; a voice which reached the throne of Almighty God, and brought him down to plead the cause of injured innocence. Indeed, every sin has a voice, which speaks powerfully in the ears of God, and calls for vengeance on the head of him who has committed it. It was in vain to dispute the testimony of Jehovah. The criminal stands confounded, and waits the sentence awarded by his Judge. Surely now then at least we shall behold him softened : his obdurate heart must now relent ; and he will accept with resignation the punishment of his iniquity. Not so indeed : he expresses no contrition : he asks not once for mercy : he complains indeed, but not of himself, not of the guilt he has contracted, not of the deed he has perpetrated, but of the punishment he has incurred ; " My punishment is greater than I can bear." But let not this be wondered at :
n Job xxii. 14. ° Ps. xciv. 7 — 10.