ine
command. A trying condition was that and Cainlike--to be deprived of
the Word; not to know what to believe, what to hope, what to suffer,
but to undertake and to perform everything at haphazard. What monk is
there who could affirm that he did anything right? Everything was
man's tradition and man's teaching, without the Word. Amid these we
wandered, being driven to and fro, and like Cain, uncertain what
verdict God would pass, whether we should merit love or hate. Such
was, in those days, our instruction.

Unsettled and aimless like this was Cain's whole posterity. They had
neither promise nor command from God, and lacked all definite guidance
for life and for death. Hence, if any of them came to the knowledge of
Christ, and allied themselves with the true Church, it was not by
reason of a promise but through sheer compassion.

212. Seth, however, who was born subsequently, had, together with his
posterity, a definite promise, a definite abode and a definite mode of
worship; on the other hand, Cain was aimless. He founded a city, it is
true, but he did not know how long he should dwell in it, not having a
divine promise. Whatever we possess without a promise is of uncertain
duration; at any amount Satan may disturb it or take it. However, when
we go into the fray equipped with God's command and promise, the devil
fights in vain; God's command insures strength and safety. Therefore,
although Cain was lord of the whole world and possessed all the
treasures of the world, still, lacking the promise of God's help and
the protection of his angels, and having nothing to lean upon but
man's counsels, he was in every respect aimless and unsettled. This he
himself admits when he further says:

V. 14b. _And it shall come to pass that every one that findeth me
shall slay me._

213. This result was quite to be expected. Having neither God nor his
father to look to for succor, having forfeited his rights both as
priest and as ruler, he saw the possibility before him that any one
found him, might slay him, for he was outlawed, body and soul.
Notwithstanding, God conferred upon the nefarious murderer a twofold
blessing. He had forfeited Church and dominion, but life and progeny
were left. God promised him to protect his existence, and also gave
him a wife. Two blessings these by no means to be despised; and when
he heard the first part of his sentence pronounced by his father, they
were more than he had a right even to hope fo