gh he designs to murder his brother, he
accosts him in a friendly manner and thereby throws him off his guard.
Hypocrisy is followed by murder. Murder is followed by the excusing of
his sin. And the last stage is despair, which is the fall from heaven
to hell.

125. Although Adam and Eve in paradise did not deny their sin, yet
their confession was lukewarm, and the sin was shifted from the one to
the other. Adam laid it on Eve, and Eve on the serpent. But Cain went
even farther, for he not only did not confess the murder he had
committed, but disclaimed responsibility for his brother. And did not
this at once prove his mind to be hostile against his brother?
Therefore, though Adam and Eve made only a half-hearted confession,
they had some claim to pardon, and in consequence were punished with
less severity. But Cain, because he resolutely denied his sin, was
rejected, and fell into despair.

And the same judgment awaits all the sons of Cain, popes, cardinals,
and bishops, who, although they plan murder against us day and night,
say likewise, "I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"

126. There was a common proverb of old, "What is it to the Romans that
the Greeks die?" So we think that our dangers and calamities only
belong to ourselves. But how does this principle agree with the
commandment of God? For his will is that we should all live together,
and be to each other as brethren. Cain, therefore, by this very saying
of his, heavily accuses himself when he makes the excuse that the
custody of his brother was no affair of his. Whereas, if he had said
to his father, "Alas, I have slain Abel, my brother. I repent of the
deed I have done. Return upon me what punishment thou wilt," there
might have been room for a remedy; but as he denied his sin, and,
contrary to the will of God, disclaimed responsibility for his brother
altogether, there was no place left for mercy or favor.

127. Moreover, Moses took special pains in the preparation of this
account, that it might serve as a witness against all hypocrites, and
as a chronicle containing a graphic description of their character and
of the ire to which they are aroused by Satan against God, his Word
and his Church. It was not enough for this murderer that he had killed
his brother, contrary to the command of God, but he added the further
sin that he became filled with indignation and rage when God inquired
of him concerning his brother. I say, "when God inquired of him,"