2 And the Lord had respect unto
Abel, and to his offering. But
unto Cain and unto his offering he
had not respect. And Cain was
very sorrowful, and his countenance
fell.
3 And the Lord said unto Cain,
Why art thou sorrowful? And
why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou shalt offer aright, but not
divide aright, hast thou not sinned?
Hold thy peace: unto thee shall
be his desire, and thou shalt rule
over him.
4 And Cain said unto Abel his
brother, Let us go down into the
field. And it came to pass, as
they were in the field, that Cain
rose up against Abel his brother,
and slew him.
5 Ye see, brethren, how envy
and emulation wrought the death
of a brother. For this, our father
Jacob fled from the face of his
brother Esau.
6 It was this that caused Joseph
to be persecuted even unto death,
and to come into bondage. Envy
forced Moses to flee from the
face of Pharoah king of Egypt,
when he heard his own countryman
ask him, "Who made thee a Judge,
and a ruler over us? Wilt thou
kill me as thou didst the
Egyptian yesterday?"
7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam
were shut out of the camp, from
the rest of the congregation
seven days.
8 Emulation's sent Dathan and
Abiram quick into the grave because
they raised up a sedition against
Moses the servant of God.
9 For this, David was not
only hated of strangers, but was
persecuted even by Saul the king
of Israel.
10 But not to insist upon ancient
examples, let us come to those
worthies that have been nearest
to us; and take the brave
examples of our own age.
11 Through zeal and envy, the
most faithful and righteous pillars
of the church have been persecuted
even to the most grievous deaths.