6. The withdrawing the Holy Spirit, and God's repenting that he had PAGE 65 69 71 7. The Flood denounced 75 8. Noah in favour with God ........ 79 9. Just and perfect in his Generation 80 10. A Preacher of Righteousness 84 Ar the head of the noble army of martyrs stands the righteous Abel, the second son of fallen Adam. So early was that harsh but salutary lesson inculcated, that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God*. His name, implying something corruptible and *Acts xiv. 22. transient, seems to have been predictive of his fate; and it intimates to us what was afterwards expressed in terms at large, by another, of the afflicted servants of God-Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery : he cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay *. Like a flower of the field, young Abel sprang up, and flourished. Fair was his appearance, and sweet the odour of his virtues. But a brother's envy, like a blighting wind, went over him, and smote him to the earth. The days of his pilgrimage *Job xiv. 1. |