And the Scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst, they say unto Jesus, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such:  what then sayest thou of her?  And this they said trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground.  And when they continued asking him, he lifted himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground.  And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last:  and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.  And Jesus lifted himself up and said unto her, Woman, where are they?  Did no man condemn thee?  And she said, No man, Lord.  And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee.  Go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.—­John 8:3-11.

Every experiment by multitudes or individuals that has a sensual or selfish aim will fail.—­Emerson.

When you meet one of these men or women be to them a Divine man; be to them thought and virtue; let their timid aspirations find in you a friend; let their trampled instincts be genially tempted out in your atmosphere; let their doubts know that you have doubted, and their wonder feel that you have wondered.—­Emerson.

But I still have a good heart and believe in myself and fellow men and the God who made us all.—­Robert Louis Stevenson.

I.

THE MEANING OF THE STORY OF CAIN.

In Arabia and Palestine to-day, as in the past, a man’s prosperity or misfortune is universally regarded as the evidence of divine approval or disapproval.  Even Jesus’ disciples on seeing a blind man by the wayside, raised the question:  “Did this man sin or his parents?” Among the Arabs of the desert the tribal mark, either tattooing or a distinctive way of cutting the hair, insures the powerful protection of the tribe.  Each tribesman is under the most sacred obligation to protect the life of a member of his tribe, or to avenge, if need be with his own life-blood, every injury done him.  Without the tribal mark a man becomes an outlaw.  Many scholars, therefore, think that the mark placed upon Cain was not primarily a stigma proclaiming his guilt, but rather a token that protected him from violence at the hands of Jehovah’s people and compelled them to avenge any wrongs that might befall him.

In the light of these facts would it not seem possible that Cain’s character and conduct are the reason why his offering was not accepted?