Expository notes, with practical observations; towards the opening of the five first chapters of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Delivered by way of exposition in several lords-dayes exercises.: By Benjamin Needler, minister of the gospel at Margaret Moses Friday-Street, London.

Quest. 21. vers. 14.

Cain saith, It shall come to passe that, every one that findeth me, shall slay me; The question is, who those were whom Cain feared, that if they met him, they would slay him?

Some think that Cain speakes this [Resp. 1] meerely upon the account of terrours of conscience; for say they, there were none but his Father, and Mother living, and was it likely they would be his executi∣oners? and yet Cain imagines multitudes to meet him, and slay him: Every one that findeth me, shall slay me, Prov. 28.1. The wicked fleeth, when no man pursueth: onely his owne guilt pursues him, and makes him flee.

But this opinion hath not the savour of

truth in it, for Cain doth not onely sup∣pose a considerable number of persons to live at that time in the world, but God himselfe, as appeares by what the Lord said unto Cain, vers. 15. Whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold.

Some are of opinion, that this is to be [ 2] expounded of the beasts, every one that findeth me shall slay me, that is, say they, I shall be torne in pieces, by every beast I meet.

But this cannot be the meaning of the words, as appeares by that which followes, for it is said, The Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him, which cannot with any shew of reason, be applied to the beasts.

Others hold, that Cain in these words had [ 3] respect to those that should afterwards be borne.

But neither can this be; for what needed there a present law, for those who as yet were not in being?

Another sort are of opinion, that these [ 4] words are to be applied to the Daughters of Adam and Eve: for that Adam had Daughters at that time, is more then pro∣bable, from that which followes; for it

is said, Cain had a wife, (which must needs be his sister) and that she was come to yeares appeares, because it is said, ver. 17. that Cain knew his wife.

From the whole (I conceive) we may more then probably conclude, that Adam and Eve, at the time when Cain spake these words, had many Sonnes, and Daugh∣ters, (although the Spirit of God doth not make mention of them, the History mainly referring to Cain and Abel.)

And to me it seemes very unlikely, that Adam and Eve should have no more chil∣dren after Cain and Abel, till they came to yeares of discretion, when at the beginning we finde, God did make especiall provision for the encrease of the world, as appeares by Gods sparing Cains life, and his dispensation of his marri∣age with his sister.

However we may take notice of the terrours of Cains conscience; for those that were in the world, were either his pa∣rents, brethren, sisters, or neere kindred, and yet he crieth out, Every one that find∣eth me shall slay me. If it be such an intolera∣ble burden for a man to read one page, or leafe of the booke of conscience, as Cain the killing of his brother, how dreadfull

will it be to read the booke of conscience, leafe, by leafe, from one end to the other at the day of judgement?

The accusings of conscience, are one part of the punishment of the damned in Hell; when Dives desired that his brethren might not come into that place of tor∣ments, it is conceived by some, that it is not spoken from a principle of love to his brethren, for all naturall affections cease in Hell; but from a principle of self-love, because their presence would tend to his further conviction, and be a means to encrease his torment.