shall fall, and 'Hhe voice of harpers and musicians and
trumpeters shall no more be heard in her ; when no crafts-
man, of whatever craft he be, shall be found in her; be-
cause in her is found the blood of the saints, and of all that
are slain upon the earth." *

Further distinctions between these seeds are shewn in
other points recorded here. There are, however, some
similarities. The last generation but one in each line is
Lamech ; and, as name denotes character, this marks some
resemblance. For the Church and world, the carnal and
spiritual seed, in the long run, and just before the judg-
ment, become too much alike. Still they differ. Lamech
" dies " in Seth's line: he yet has faith of better things ;
while his speech (for the words of both are recorded)
points out how deep a difference exists under the outward
similarity. For Lamech in Cain's line boasts of the fact
that Cain's sin had not brought judgment on him, and
argues from this that he may sin with impunity: — "I
have slain a man to my woimding, and a yoimg man to
my hurt;" but Q-od has set a mark on Cain, lest he be
destroyed, '*and if Cain shall be avenged seven-fold, surely
Lamech seventy and seven-fold:"* that is, God has
spared one who sinned like Cain ; how much more will he
preserve me, though I too am a murderer. So from grace
this Lamech argues that sin may abound. The other La-
mech also speaks, but it is of "the ground the Lord hath
cursed," and of " rest out of it, which shall comfort them : "
—"This same shall comfort us concerning our toil, be-
cause of the groimd which the Lord hath cursed."® The
one says in effect, " Where is the God of judgment ? " The
other confesses sin, in hope of better things. All this is

* Key. xvm. 22—24. • Chap. v. 28, 29.
