“_Of how much sorer punishment_, suppose ye, _shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God_, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Verse 29. 10. Is it the duty of gospel ministers to execute vengeance? “Now then _we are ambassadors for Christ_, as though God did beseech you by us.” 2 Cor. 5:20. See 2 Tim. 2:24-26. 11. To whom does vengeance belong? “_Vengeance is Mine; I will repay_, saith the Lord.” Rom. 12:19. 12. To whom has execution of judgment been committed? “For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and _hath given Him authority to execute judgment also_.” John 5:26, 27. See Jude 14, 15. 13. Because evil is not punished immediately, what presumptuous course do many pursue? “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, _therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil_.” Eccl. 8:11. 14. What message has God commissioned His ministers to bear to men? “Say ye to the righteous, that _it shall be well with him_: for they shall eat of the fruit of their doings. _Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him_: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” Isa. 3:10, 11. The Law Of God In The Patriarchal Age [Illustration.] Obedience Of Abraham. "Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept ... My commandments." Gen. 26:5. 1. Can there be sin where there is no law? “Because the law worketh wrath: _for where no law is, there is no transgression_.” “_Sin is not imputed when there is no law._” Rom. 4:15; 5:13. 2. Through what is the knowledge of sin obtained? “For _by the law_ is the knowledge of sin.” “I had not known sin, but _by the law_.” Rom. 3:20; 7:7. 3. What statement shows that sin was in the world before the law was given on Mt. Sinai? “_For until the law sin was in the world_: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Rom. 5:13. NOTE.—The fact that sin was imputed before the law was given at Sinai is conclusive proof that the law existed before that event. 4. When did sin and death enter the world? “Wherefore, as _by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world_, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Verse 12. 5. With what words did God admonish Cain? “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, _sin lieth at the door_.” Gen. 4:7. 6. What shows that God imputed sin to Cain? “And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground. And _now art thou cursed from the earth_, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.” Verses 10, 11. 7. What was the difference between Cain’s and Abel’s characters?