But Cain did as all ungodly do: For he went forth, and slew his innocent brother. And afterward when the Lord would have brought him into the knowledge of his great sin, and pardon him, he despised the voice of the Lord with cracking and facing.1 For the which cause the Lord was wroth with him, and cursed him. Then despaired he first, and went forth and became yet more wicked, dealt altogether ungodly, set first his mind upon earthly things, thought to exalt his name upon earth, and builded the first city, which he called Hanoch: he begat sons and daughters, but little fear of God was before their eyes, in so much that the Scripture saith,2 Adam lay with his wife again, and she bare a son, whom she called Seth. For God (said she) hath given me another seed for Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth also had a son, and he called him Enos. And then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. Out of the which words it is easy to understand, that as touching holy Adam, 3he held no more of Cain, than as though he never had had child. For Adam feared God: Cain with his progeny despised God, and became the Serpents generation. Wherefore when Adam had gotten another son, he was of a good hope, that in Abel's ⟨p. 26⟩stead God had given him another son, which should do right, and of whom the root of the blessed seed should spread out afterward. For the which cause also he called him Seth, which by us is called a plant,4 meaning, that God had set and planted him as a branch, out of which the Messiah should be borne. For as for Cain, he doubted of him. And from the same Seth proceeded the generation of the righteous until Noah, and from him to Abraham, and so unto David, and from thence forth unto Christ. This Seth repaired our holy faith, which received great hurt at the death of Abel. 5This did Seth (I say) for as much as he being taught inwardly of God, and by mouth or outwardly of Adam, learned his children and their seed, to put their trust in God, and to comfort themselves in the blessed seed, and to cleave unto the same.6 For it is written manifestly: And then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. Till this time was Adam with Heva his wife only a true friend and server of God.7 The generation of Cain was now well spread abroad, and come to two hundred and fifty years and above, but the more part lived without the fear of God, unrepentant and ungodly.
But Cain did as all ungodly doe: For he went forth, and slew his innocent brother. And afterward when the Lord would have brought him into the knowledge of his great sinne, and pardon him, he despised the voice of the Lord with craking and facing.1 For the which cause the Lord was wroth with him, and cursed him. Then despaired he first, and went forth and became yet more wicked, dealt altogether ungodly, set first his minde upon earthly things, thought to exalt his name upon earth, and builded the first citie, which he called Hanoch: hee begat sonnes and daughters, but little feare of God was before their eyes, in so much that the Scripture saith,2 Adam lay with his wife againe, and shee bare a sonne, whom shee called Seth. For God (said shee) hath given me another seed for Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth also had a sonne, and he called him Enos. And then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. Out of the which words it is easie to understand, that as touching holy Adam, 3hee held no more of Cain, than as though he never had had childe. For Adam feared God: Cain with his progenie despised God, and became the Serpents generation. Wherefore when Adam had gotten another sonne, he was of a good hope, that in Abels ⟨p. 26⟩stead God had given him another sonne, which should doe right, and of whom the root of the blessed seed should spread out afterward. For the which cause also he called him Seth, which by vs is called a plant,4 meaning, that God had set and planted him as a branch, out of which the Messias should be borne. For as for Cain, hee doubted of him. And from the same Seth proceeded the generation of the righteous untill Noe, and from him to Abraham, and so unto David, and from thence forth unto Christ. This Seth repaired our holy faith, which received great hurt at the death of Abel. 5This did Seth (I say) for as much as he being taught inwardly of God, and by mouth or outwardly of Adam, learned his children and their seed, to put their trust in God, and to comfort themselves in the blessed seed, and to cleave unto the same.6 For it is written manifestly: And then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. Till this time was Adam with Heva his wife only a true friend and server of God.
- 1The first decay of the faith was by cursed Cain.
- 2Genes. 4.25.
- 3Adam was not of the faith of Cain.
- 4Seth the fir•• re•••e• of the true faith.
- 5The reparation of our faith.The reparation of our fa•th.
- 6Gen. 4.26.
- 7Adams life.
