Caput XIV
The Two Generations from Cain and Abel
Odo introduces the two generations of humanity—the evil line of Cain and the good line of Abel—and invites each person to discern which generation their own works align with.
Regarding the things that neighbors suffer at the hands of their fellow neighbors — which we are about to recount — it seems right that we first set down, from the beginning, two lines of people: namely, the evil and the good. As for the individual deeds of each person, let each one decide which line he belongs to, once he has recognized which of the two lines the works he does belong to. There are, then, two lines of people, which trace their origin from the two sons of Adam — from Cain, that is, and Abel — and down to the last who are yet to be born, they run their course, now divided, now mixed together.
Scripture's Blessing on the Generation of the Good
Odo marshals three scriptural testimonies—1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 111:2, and Psalm 13:6—to show how God blesses and dwells with the upright generation.
Concerning the line of the good, which begins with the righteous Abel, it is said: "But you are a chosen race" (1 Pet.✦ 2:9).✦ And likewise: "The line of the upright will be blessed" (Ps.✦ 111:2).✦ And elsewhere: "The Lord is in the righteous line" (Ps.
Scripture's Judgment on the Generation of the Wicked
Odo turns to the evil generation, citing Psalm 77:8 and Deuteronomy 32:28 to expose its crookedness, wayward heart, and utter lack of counsel, culminating in the folly of not foreseeing one's end.
XIII, 6).✦ Now, of the generation of evils that begins with Cain, it is said: 'A crooked and exasperating generation' (Psalm✦ LXXVII, 8).✦ And likewise: 'A generation that has not directed its heart aright' (Psalm 77:8).✦ . And that word: 'They are a nation without counsel' (Deuteronomy✦ XXXII, 28).✦ For what is more without counsel than — as it says there — not to foresee the things that come at the end?✦
Two Cities, Two Kings
Odo contrasts the city of Jerusalem with its humble King Christ against the city of Babylon with its proud king the devil, mapping the two generations onto an eschatological vision of two opposing commonwealths.
The nation of the good has its own city, Jerusalem, whose citizen it is—partly reigning in heaven already, partly still sojourning here.✦ And it has a humble king—Christ—of whom the same passage says: Behold, your king comes to you, gentle, sitting on a donkey's colt (Zech.✦1 IX, 9). That generation of the wicked also has its own city, Babylon—some already condemned in hell, others still caught up in the service of iniquity. It also has a proud king, the devil, of whom it is said: He is king over all the sons of pride (Job 41:25).✦2
Read the original Latin
De his quae a proximis proximi patiuntur aliqua nihilominus relaturi, videtur ut duas generationes hominum, scilicet malorum et bonorum, primo ab exordio memoremus. Jam vero de singularum actibus quisque probet in qua generatione teneatur, dum cognoverit ad quam ex ejusdem generationibus pertineant opera quae facit. Sunt itaque duae generationes hominum, quae a duobus filiis Adam, a Cain videlicet et Abel, exordium acceperunt, et usque ad ultimos, qui nascituri sunt, nunc divise, nunc misti percurrunt. De bonorum generatione quae ab Abel justo incipit ita dicitur: Vos autem genus electum (I Petr. II, 9). Et item: Generatio rectorum benedicetur (Psal. CXI, 2). Et alias: Dominus in generatione justa est (Psal.
XIII, 6). De malorum vero, quae a Cain incipit, sic dicitur: Generatio prava et exasperans (Psal. LXXVII, 8). Et item: Generatio quae non direxit cor suum (Ibid.) . Et illud: Gens absque consilio est (Deut. XXXII, 28). Quid enim plus sine consilio est, quam sicut illic sequitur, novissima non providere?
Gens bonorum habet civitatem suam Hierusalem, cujus et civis est, partim in coelo jam regnans, partim hic peregrinans. Et habet humilem regem Christum, de quo eidem dicitur: Ecce Rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus, sedens supra pullum asinae (Zach. IX, 9). Habet et illa generatio malorum civitatem suam Babylonem, partim in inferno damnatam, partim adhuc in iniquitatis ministerio occupatam. Quae et superbum regem habet diabolum, de quo dicitur: Ipse est rex super omnes filios superbiae (Job XLI, 25).
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Pet.2.9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
- ↩1Pet.2.9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
- ↩Ps.111.2 — Great are the works of the LORD, sought out by all who delight in them.
- ↩Ps.111.2 — Great are the works of the LORD, sought out by all who delight in them.
- ↩Ps.13.6 — But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt bountifully with me.
- ↩Ps.77.8 — Has the Lord rejected forever? Will he never again be pleased?
- ↩Ps.77.8 — Has the Lord rejected forever? Will he never again be pleased?
- ↩Ps.77.8 — Has the Lord rejected forever? Will he never again be pleased?
- ↩Deut.32.28 — For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no understanding among them.
- ↩Deut.32.28 — For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no understanding among them.
- ↩Deut.32.28 — For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no understanding among them.
- ↩Phil.3.20;Heb.11.13-Heb.11.16 — For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb.11.13 — By faith these all died, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and having greeted them, and having confessed that they are strangers and exiles on the earth. Heb.11.14 — For those who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Heb.11.15 — And if they had been remembering that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. Heb.11.16 — But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
- ↩Zech.9.9 — Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king comes to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- ↩Job.41.25 — On earth there is none like him, made without fear.
Notes
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