Genesis 4:4, 5 “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” The following discourse of this verse is copied verbatim from “The Riches of Bunyan.” The book was written while he was in the Bedford jail in the mid 1650’s. All the following words are his.
“There are many things which men call the grace of God that are not.
1. The light and knowledge that are in every man.
2. That natural willingness that is in man to be saved.
3. That power that is in man by nature to do something, as he thinketh, towards his own salvation.
But do thou remember that the grace of God is his good-will and great love to sinners, in his Son Jesus Christ; by the which good-will they are sanctified, through the offering up of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
His blood is not laws, nor ordinances, nor commandments, but a price, a redeeming price. He justifies us by bestowing upon us, not by expecting from us. He justifies us by his grace, not by works.
Herein are the true footsteps of grace discovered; the person must be the first in favor with God-the person first, the performance afterwards: for though it be true among men that the gift makes way for the acceptance of the person, yet in the order of grace it is after another manner; for if the person be not first accepted, the offering must be abominable; for it is not a good work that makes a good man, but a good man makes a good work. The fruit does not make a good tree, but a good tree bringeth forth good fruit.
Abel then presented his person and offering, as shrouding both by faith under the righteousness of Christ, which lay wrapped up in the promise; but Cain stands upon his own legs, and so presents his offering. Abel therefore is accepted, both his person and offering, while Cain remains accursed. This then makes the difference betwixt Abel and his brother; Abel had faith, but Cain had none. Abel’s faith covered him with Jesus Christ; therefore he stood righteous in his person before God.”