And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment [is] greater than I can bear.
Ver. 13. My punishment is greater than I can bear.] Or, mine iniquity is greater than can be forgiven. In either sense he sins exceedingly, and worse perhaps than in slaying his brother, whether he murmur against God's justice, or despair of his mercy. Mine iniquity is greater, &c. Mentiris, Cain, saith a Father. Cain did not say so, because it was so; but it was so, because he said so. Despair is Satan's masterpiece; it carries men headlong to hell, as the devils did the herd of swine into the deep; witness Guarlacus, Bomelius, Latomus of Lovain, Johannes de Canis, our English Hubertus, a covetous oppressor, who made this will, - I yield my goods to the king, my body to the grave, my soul to the devil. Pope Paul III., that spent his time in filthy pleasures, after that he had heard of the death of his son Petrus Aloisius, died in a peevish rage, and crying out in despair, Peccatum meum contra me semper, My sin is ever against me; and so gave up the ghost. a
a Act. and Mon ., fol. 1908. Gellius in Dialog. Secundo Chimaerico. Willet on Daniel.