06.2.0. Cain and Abel, or the Carnal and Spiritual

PART 2

CAIN AND ABEL, OR THE CARNAL AND SPIRITUAL MIND Genesis 4:1-26, Genesis 5:1-32

"That is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterwards that which is spiritual." -- 1 Corinthians 15:46.

"The flesh lusteth against the spirit." - Galatians 5:17.

ADAM did not live very long, before two other forms of life might be perceived proceeding from him. In these, the sons of old Adam, we have the first and second births of human nature, those forms of life, both carnal and spiritual, which by nature or grace grow out of the old man in each of us. And very different are these forms, though, like chaff and wheat, they spring both out of one root. Their order never changes. That is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural. Age after age it is the same, within, or without, or in the dispensations. The outcome of Adam varies not. Some forms of life there are, which are "of old ordained to condemnation" (Jude 1:4). These are the wild natural fruits; and, the root being known, its fruit is foreseen as surely as that brambles will only bear brambles. But besides these there are other forms of life, springing out of man, the fruits of "the engrafted word" (James 1:21), which are predestined to glory. Each of these I would now trace, first within, and then more outwardly. The tale is one on every platform. The outward fulfilments are but the manifestations that such or such a life prevails within.