The fifth is another reply of _Cain_ upon the denouncement of his curse, _My iniquity is greater then can be forgiven_: For so it is expressed in some Translations. The assertion was not only desperate, but the conceit erroneous, overthrowing that glorious Attribute of God, his Mercy, and conceiving the sin of murder unpardonable. Which how great soever, is not above the repentance of man; but far below the mercies of God, and was (as some conceive) expiated in that punishment he suffered temporally for it. There are but two examples of this error in holy Scripture, and they both for Murder, and both as it were of the same person; for Christ was mystically slain in _Abel_, and therefore _Cain_ had some influence on his death as well as _Judas_; but the sin had a different effect on _Cain_, from that it had on _Judas_; and most that since have fallen into it. For they like _Judas_ desire death, and not unfrequently pursue it: _Cain_ on the contrary grew afraid thereof, and obtained a securement from it. Assuredly, if his despair continued, there was punishment enough in life, and Justice sufficient in the mercy of his protection. For the life of the desperate equalls the anxieties of death; who in uncessant inquietudes but act the life of the damned, and anticipate the desolations of Hell. 'Tis indeed a sin in man, but a punishment only in Devils, who offend not God but afflict themselves, in the appointed despair of his mercies. And as to be without hope is the affliction of the damned, so is it the happiness of the blessed; who having all their expectations present, are not distracted with futurities: So is it also their felicity to have no Faith; for enjoying the beatifical vision, there is nothing unto them inevident; and in the fruition of the object of Faith, they have received the full evacuation of it. [Sidenote: Cain, _as the Rabbins think, was the man slain by_ Lamech, _Gen. 4, 23._] The last speech was that of _Lamech, I have slain a man to my wound, and a young man in my hurt_: If _Cain_ be avenged seven fold, truly _Lamech_ seventy and seven fold. Now herein there seems to be a very erroneous Illation: from the Indulgence of God unto _Cain_, concluding an immunity unto himself; that is, a regular protection from a single example, and an exemption from punishment in a fact that naturally deserved it. The Error of this offender was contrary to that of _Cain_, whom the _Rabbins_ conceive that _Lamech_ at this time killed. He despaired in Gods mercy in the same Fact, where this presumed of it; he by a decollation of all hope annihilated his mercy, this by an immoderancy thereof destroyed his Justice. Though the sin were less, the Error was as great; For as it is untrue, that his mercy will not forgive offenders, or his benignity co-operate to their conversions; So is it also of no less falsity to affirm His justice will not exact account of sinners, or punish such as continue in their transgressions.