By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
The Holy Ghost having first established the truth of the principle of faith itself, and having shewn both the nature of it, and the operation of it, in the properties induced by it, in the lives of the faithful; how proceeds to exemplify its gracious actings, in the lives of those holy men of old, who by it obtained a good report. And the Lord begins with the history of the faith of Abel. And nothing surely can be more strong and decisive, on the subject. The faith of Abel is contrasted to the unbelief of Cain. Both brought their offerings to the Lord. But the Holy Ghost hath marked the vast difference. Cain brought of the fruits of the earth, as one that considered himself a Tenant to he Lord; and no more. He thought the Lord was, as he undoubtedly is, both Lord and Proprietor of all things. And Cain acknowledged him as such, and brought his rent. Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock, and offered in sacrifice as a sinner. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and his offering: but unto Cain, and to his offering he had not respect, Genesis 4:5; Genesis 4:5. Now we should not have known, with that clearness we now do, through divine teaching, what made the vast difference in those men, and the Lord's different acceptance of their Persons and offerings; but from God the Spirit's teaching, in this holy scripture. But when the Lord saith, that it was by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, we discover the reason. Abel had an eye, by faith, to Christ, the Promised Seed, Abel knew himself to be a sinner, sprung from the fallen race of Adam, and therefore came with the firstlings of his flock, in token of his conscious sin, and that he looked wholly for acceptance in the blood of Christ. Cain in his offering, had respect only to God as a Creator, neither confessing himself as a sinner, or as one needing a Redeemer; and, therefore, was the first Deist the world ever knew. Hence the Lord had respect to Abel and his offering; but to Cain, he had not respect. Hence also, the blessed testimony here given, by the Holy Ghost to Abel, and the rejection of Cain. And though so many ages have passed since those events took place, yet are they still in relation before us. Abel, though dead, yet speaketh.