Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1906).djvu/557

Rh takes his offering from the firstlings of the flock. A lamb is a more animate form of existence, and more nearly resembles a mind-offering than does Cain's fruit. Jealous of his brother's gift, Cain seeks Abel's life, instead of making his own gift a higher tribute to the Most High.

Had God more respect for the homage bestowed through a gentle animal than for the worship expressed by Cain's fruit? No; but the lamb was a more spiritual type of even the human concept of Love than the herbs of the ground could be.

The erroneous belief that life, substance, and intelligence can be material ruptures the life and brotherhood of man at the very outset.

Here the serpentine lie invents new forms. At first it

usurps divine power. It is supposed to say in the first instance, “Ye shall be as gods.” Now it repudiates even the human duty of man towards his brother.