I. THE EXPULSION FROM PARADISE (Gen. 3:2024). After their disobedience, God could not keep Adam and Eve in the Garden. He sent them out and guarded the way to the tree of life, that they might not eat and live forever in their sinful state.

II. THEIR NEW HOME (Gen. 4:1-15).

1. The First Brothers. — Adam had kept his eye open to the promise of hope and had given his wife the name Eve, mother of all living, thus consoling himself against the threatened death by the promised perpetuity of the race through their descendants. Cain and Abel were the first sons to bless their new home outside of Paradise.

2. The Brothers at Work. — Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain a tiller of the ground.

3. The Brothers at Worship. — The brothers each brought an offering of thanksgiving to the Lord. Cain brought the fruits of the ground^and Abel the best of his flock:but God refused Cain's gift and accepted Abel's, because Abel offered* it in the right spirit (Heb. 11:4).

4. The Brothers at Variance. — God's refusal of Cain's offering filled him with wrath against both God and Abel, and at length, when alone with his brother Abel, he murdered him. In these two sons of Adam are represented the World and the Church, the one son yielding to evil, the other gaining the mastery over evil.

5. The Brothers at Judgment. — God called Cain to account, but Cain scornfully asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Abel's blood cried from the ground as a witness against Cain. Thus the ground served Abel, but refused to help Cain. A threefold curse was placed upon the murderer — his conscience was guilt-stricken, he was a vagabond in body, and unprosperous in labor.

III. CAIN'S POSTERITY (Gen. 4:16-24). Cain left the presence of God and dwelt in the land of Nod. Among his descendants we find the originators of the following:

1. The First City.— Enoch builded the first city and named it for himself.

2. The First Polygamy.— Lamech is the first polygamist on record.

3 The First Musical Instruments.— Jubal was the father of those who handle musical instruments.

4. The First Poetry.— Verses 23 and 24 are the first poetry on record, and to Lamech is assigned the authorship.

IV. SETH'S POSTERITY. (Gen. 4:25-5:32). The good line was not destroyed when Cain murdered Abel, for Seth was raised up in his stead to perpetuate the godly.

1. The Beginning of Public Worship.— In the days of Enos, the son of Seth, men first met together to call upon the name of the Lord.

2. Walking With God.— In Enoch the line of Seth reaches the climax in piety, and Enoch, because he walked with God, was translated into heaven without dying.

3. Decline of Piety.— In the family of Lamech the line of Seth is weakened in piety, as is indicated by the need of a comforter, and Noah is promised to console them concerning their toil and pain brought upon them by the sin-cursed earth.

QUESTIONS.

• Why were Adam and Eve banished?

• Why not permit them to eat c f the tree of life?

• Who were the first brothers?

• What was the occupation of each?

• How did the brothers worship?

• What led to their quarrel?

• What was the result?

• What do these sons of Adam represent?

• How did the ground witness against Cain?

• What was the threefold curse placed upon Cain?

• Where did Cain live after the curse was upon him?

• What four things originated among Cain's descendants?

• When did public worship begin?

• When does piety reach its climax?

• Who is promised to comfort the Sethites in the decline of piety?

REVIEW.

I. Expulsion from Paradise.

II. Their New Home.

1. The First Brothers.

2. The Brothers at Work.

3. The Brothers at Worship.

4. The Brothers at Variance.

5. The Brothers at Judgment.

III. Cain's Posterity.— The Wicked Line.

1. The First City.

2. The First Polygamy.

3. The First Musical Instruments.

4. The First Poetry.

IV. Seth's Posterity.— The Godly Line.

1. Beginning of Public Worship.

2. Walking with God.

3. Decline of Piety.