THE DESCENDANTS OF CAIN.

LESSON LXX.

"The Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him."-Gen. 14: 15.

1. We have noticed the proclivities of parents re-produced in their children to many generations. The name of Jacob signifies supplanter, and Esau said he was rightly named. He supplanted his brother, as also his father-in-law. His children supplanted the idolatrous inhabitants of Palestine, and his descendants, to this day, are at work to supplant our holy Sabbath, and the institutions of the Christian religion. 2. As soon as the conscience of Cain called up his fratricide, he was made to utter, under his own name, a series of prophetic truths, which gave the characteristics of his progeny. These impressions were presented in the form of a dialogue between his soul and God.

3. The "curse" was to drive him from the then known "earth," and yet he would be a fugitive and vagabond in the earth." Cain saw that he would be driven out from the face of the earth, and, consequently, lost to the rest of the world; and when men should find him they would slay him.

4. Despairingly, in view of the effects upon bis progeny, he appealed unto God, that it was more than he could bear. He saw that his watchword would be to his enemies, "vengeance seven fold." The Lord gave him a "mark," a redeeming characteristic, that men, finding him in his isolation, should not kill him. Cain also saw that he would lose his skill in tilling the soil. 5. Cain and his descendants for six generations dwelt neighbors to the rest of the world. The names of his sons and their wives are familiarly recorded by Moses. Lamech, the fifth from Cain, had two wives and three sons, who became the heads of the three bands, or distinct families, prophetic of three degrees of civilization.

6. Jabal was the father of such as dwelt in tents, and had cattle. Jubal was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Tubal Cain was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. 7. Here ends the knowledge of the ancients concerning them. Here they took up their migratory life, to go forth from the "face" of the then known "earth." Lamech had a pro

phetic vision of the increased characteristics of these families. "If Cain shall be avenged seven fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold." 8. A people going forth with such debasing watchwords, will be likely to fulfill all that prophecy uttered, even to that terrible declaration of Cain, "I shall be hid from thy face." Hundreds of years pass, and their memory is lost, nor were they found again, by mankind in general, until discovered by Columbus. 9. The characteristic "mark," which prophecy said would be placed upon this people, was found upon them, as well as all the debasing tendencies spoken of. The mark would be redeeming in its

nature.

10. The Indian has been noted for one trait in his character that fulfills this prophecy, viz: "gratitude" for "kindness." Christianity has alone read, and profited by this mark.

11. The habits of the Indians show very clearly, at least, two of the distinct characteristics of Lamech's sons. The North American Indian lives in tents and owns cattle. While the South American, with those of the southern part of North America, live in houses and are workers of brass and iron. All have lost ability to till the soil. Vengeance is the watch-word to enemies. 12. The Bible is not silent concerning them. How natural to the benevolent mission of Christ, as he looked upon these poor degraded children of nature, imprisoned as it were from the rest of

the world, to cross over to them at times, and become their loving teacher, both before, and after the resurrection. It is more than probable that this is the reason the Puritans found those of the North without idols, and with such knowledge of the Great Spirit.

13. Christ frequently talked of his mission to those in prison, and finally he spoke as follows : "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."

14. Peter wrote, "By which (Spirit) also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing." 15. The original here translated "disobedient,' is Apethidzo, to teach not. The verse truly rendered, would read: "Who for a long time. had been untaught, at the time the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah."

16. Roman Catholics tell us Christ went to preach to the lost in hell. This we do not accept; but he went to preach to somebody, or race of people, who failed to get Noah's teaching during the one hundred and twenty years, that he warned the world of the coming flood. May this not be the reason why that race had a remnant left, to enjoy the gospel under the great Teacher?

QUESTIONS.

1. What hereditary tendencies have we noticed?

What does Jacob mean?

What did Esau say of it?

What has been Israel's history?

2. At what time did Cain become imbued with a prophecy?

Who is personally addressed?

Who are meant?

In what form were they presented?

3. What was the curse?

Does this mean that the curse would come

from the earth, or that he would remove from the then inhabited earth?

What would he be ?

Was this fulfilled in Cain's day?* Gen. 4:16. What did he see?

4. What did he do?

What did he see would be the watch-word of the race?

What did the Lord do for him?

Was this a literal brand, or a marked characteristic?

Was it as a curse, or a redeeming quality ?* What was it for?

What farther did he see?

5. How long did he remain a neighbor to the rest of mankind?

If he had gone to a great distance could the history of his family have been given?