Genesis 4:17-24 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city… I. THE CASE OF LAMECH SHOWS THE EFFECT OF AN ABANDONMENT OF THE CHURCH'S FELLOWSHIP. 1. The end and use of ordinances. 2. These are enjoined only in the Church. 3. Cain and his posterity forsook the fellowship of the Church, and lost its privileges. 4. Mark the effect of this in Lamech. (1) In his government of himself, unrestrained by Divine precepts, a polygamist. (2) In household government, a tyrant. (3) In his character as a member of society, a murderer. One sin leads to another. II. THE CASE OF LAMECH SHOWS THAT OUTWARD PROSPERITY IS NO SURE MARK OF GOD'S FAVOUR. 1. We have seen Lamech's character. 2. He was remarkable for family prosperity (vers. 20-22). 3. God's dealings with His people have all a reference to their spiritual and eternal good. 4. Hence they have not uninterrupted prosperity. 5. To the ungodly, temporal good is cursed, and becomes a curse — increased responsibility, increased guilt. 6. Splendid masked misery — embroidered shroud — sculptured tomb. 7. The graces of poetry given here — speech of Lamech. III. THE CASE OF LAMECH SHOWS THAT THE DEALINGS OF GOD ARE MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISINTERPRETED BY THE UNGODLY. 1. God protected Cain by a special providence, that His sentence might take effect. 2. Lamech argues from this, that he is under a similar special providence. 3. Common — they who despise Divine things still know as much of them as is convenient for their reasonings. Doctrines — depravity, election, justification by faith. Incidents — Noah, David, Peter, malefactor on the cross — "All things work," etc. "Because sentence against," etc. (Ecclesiastes 8:11). 4. Satan thus uses something like the sword of the Spirit — infuses poison into the Word of Life. 5. The Scriptures are thus by men made to injure them fatally. They rest them to their own destruction — food in a weak stomach — a weed in a rich soil. (1) See the effects of a departure from God. (2) Avoid the first step. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. |
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