Wesley Corpus

Chapter IV In this chapter we have both the world and the church in Adam's family, and a specimen of the character and state of both in all ages. As all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into the children of God and the children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain and Abel; and an early instance of the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. We have here, The birth, names, and callings of Cain and Abel, ver. 1, 2. Their religion, and different success in it, ver. 3, 4, and part of ver. 5. Cain's anger at God, and the reproof of him for that anger, ver. 5, 6, 7. Cain's murder of his brother, and the process against him for that murder. The murder committed, ver. 8. The proceedings against him. His arraignment, ver. 9, former part. His plea, ver. 9. latter part. His conviction, ver. 10. The sentence passed upon him, ver. 11, 12. His complaint against the sentence, ver. 13, 14. The ratification of the sentence, ver. 15. The execution of the sentence, ver. 15, 16. The family and posterity of Cain, ver. 17 - 24. The birth of another son and grandson of Adam, ver. 25, 26. Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters, Ge 5:4. But Cain and Abel seem to have been the two eldest. Cain signifies possession; for Eve when she bare him said with joy and thankfulness, and great expectation, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Abel signifies vanity. The name given to this son is put upon the whole race, Psa 39:5. Every man is at his best estate vanity; Abel, vanity. He chose that employment which did most befriend contemplation and devotion, for that hath been looked upon as the advantage of a pastoral life. Moses and David kept sheep, and in their solitudes conversed with God.