Genesis 4:16

Went out from the presence of the Lord.

From the place of his public worship. Various allusions serve to show that after the exile of our parents from Eden there was. place of worship where God was wont to manifest his presence, as in later times he did in Bethel, the cloud and the tabernacle. Cain was now excommunicated, an apostate, separated from godly associations and the true worship.

Dwelt in the land of Nod.

Where this land was is only conjecture. It was east from Eden, probably on the barren plateaus of Central Asia.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because one without faith will not be obedient to God.

He who has faith will obey the word of God, nor will he seek to change God's ordinances to suit his own will. The corruptions of institutions appointed by Christ are due to. defect of faith.

The downward course of Cain is marked out clearly. 1. Belief in himself rather than in Jehovah; 2. Perversion of God's appointment; 3. Anger against God; 4. Hatred of his brother; 6. The murder of his brother; 6. Lying to God. Everyone should beware of the beginning of evil.

He who is so selfish as to regard the welfare of others. matter that does not concern him has the germ from whence murder springs in his heart.

It is impossible to keep an evil deed concealed. "Murder will out." Even if men are kept in ignorance God sees and knows all and will bring the murderer to judgment. He will be the avenger of every wrong.

This lesson gives the history of the first life outside of Eden, of the first sons ever born, of the first worship on record, of the first quarrel recorded, of the first death, of the first murder, and the first punishment of. murderer. The first death on the earth was one of violence.

Evolutionists teach that men first lived wild, savage lives, on roots, or wild fruits, then by the chase, then nomadic lives as shepherds, and last of all tilled the soil. The Bible says that the first man was. gardener, and his first-born son an agriculturist.

RELIGIOUS DISPUTES.--The first murder committed in the world was in consequence of. religious dispute. Millions have since been sacrificed to prejudice, bigotry and intolerance. Here certainly originates the many-headed monster, religious persecution. The spirit of the wicked one in his followers impels them to hate, afflict and destroy all who are partakers of the spirit of Christ. Every persecutor is. legitimate son of the old murderer.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP.--Cain and Abel were both worshipers, one was accepted and the other rejected. The millions of worshipers on the earth should take warning and consider narrowly whether their worship is approved. We learn here that acceptable worship must be, 1. Offered in faith; 2. Offered just as God has directed; 3. Must be in spirit and truth. It must not be formal only, but of the heart.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Note the changed home of our first parents, and their changed conditions. Try to form some conception of the simple life of the early men. 2. Observe the first children in the world; their names, their different characters, their occupations. 3. Note the simple worship, the first recorded; no priest, but everyone his own priest, the rude altars of stones, the sacrifice of Abel and the offering of Cain. 4. Point out the different results and the reasons. 5. Note the first quarrel and the first murder, as well as its cause. Teach the lesson that hate must not be cherished; it may grow until it gets the mastery and brings forth murder. 6. Note that God will be the avenger of all who suffer wrong. Their groans, cries of pain or terror, and their blood appeals to him. He will espouse their cause and every wrong doer will be brought to punishment. 7. Note that he who sins will be "driven from the presence of the Lord." To learn who shall abide in the presence of the Lord, read the 15th Psalm. 8. Note that sinners are fugitive and vagabond. They will be homeless forever.