shed in the flood, had followed Cain, as the text plainly
declares when it affirms that the sons of God, when they came unto the
daughters of men, begat giants and mighty men, which were of old, men
of renown, Gen 6, 4. Therefore, since Cain had so great a posterity,
and he built the first city, how can it be true, men ask, that he was
a fugitive and wanderer upon earth?

209. We will reply in accordance with what is written. The
illustrations from the New Testament above mentioned, Paul, the
apostles, Christ, and the prophets, assuredly belong to quite a
different category. When Adam here says to Cain, "A fugitive and a
wanderer shalt thou be in the earth," he speaks these words to him to
send him away, without further precept. He does not say to him, "Go to
the east;" he does not say, "Go to the south;" he does not mention any
place to which he should go. He gives him no command what to do; but
simply casts him out. Whither he goes and what he does, is no concern
of his. He adds no promise of protection, he does not say: God shall
take care of thee; God shall protect thee. On the contrary; as the
whole sky is free to the bird, which is at liberty to fly whither it
pleases, but is without a place where it may be secure from the
attacks of other birds, so Adam turns Cain away. The latter feels
this. Hence his rejoinder: "It shall come to pass that every one that
findeth me, shall slay me."

210. The condition of Adam was different and better. Adam had sinned,
and by his sin he had sunk into death. But when he was driven out of
paradise, God assigned him a particular task--that he should till the
earth in a particular place. God also clothed him with a covering of
skins. This, as we said, was a sign that God would take care of him
and protect him. And, last but not least, a glorious promise was made
to the woman concerning the seed which should bruise the serpent's
head. Nothing like this was left to Cain. He was sent away absolutely
without assignment of any particular place or task. No command was
given him nor was any promise made him. He was like a bird aimlessly
roving beneath the wide heavens. This is what it means to be a
vagabond and wanderer.

211. Unsettled and aimless, likewise, are all who lack God's Word and
command, wherein person and place receive adequate direction. Such
were we under the papacy. Worship, works, exercises--all these were
present; but all these existed and found acceptance without a div