The True Woman | Page 9

is to a merchant. Do we long for salvation, for a
revival, for any spiritual outpouring? have faith in God. There is a
motive in it. Expect the blessing, and you will receive it.
"The Spirit itself," said Paul, "beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be
also glorified together." This is enjoyed despite the curse. "Jesus sent us
the Comforter, who helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the
hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are thus called according to his purpose." This fatherhood of God
comes to us under all circumstances and in all conditions. In the home,
in the heart with all its wails, in the battle, in the victory, on earth and
in heaven. Notice how Adam was made ready for his helpmeet.
"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field,
and every fowl of the air, and brought them unto Adam to see what he
would call them; and whatsoever Adam called every living creature,
that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to
the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there
was not found a helpmeet for him."
Imagine Adam feeling this want of companionship as the beasts of
earth in their pristine beauty pass before him. There are those who mate
with a horse or a dog. Who make a pet of a brute, and, ignoring their
higher relations, live for their lower nature. We know that animals can
be brought to do almost anything but talk, and some birds have the gift
of speech. It was doubtless true of Eden. The serpent's talking did not

surprise Eve.
Perhaps Adam may have found animals that could have kept him
company. Yet he could find none who could meet his want as a
helpmeet. Milton has fancifully described Adam expressing his want to
the Infinite. It grew upon him. Then he has pictured him asleep, and
seeing, as in a trance, the rib, with cordial spirits warm, formed and
fashioned with his hands, until
"Under his forming hands a creature grew, Manlike, but different sex,
so lovely fair That what seemed fair in all the world seemed now Mean,
or in her summed up, in her contained, And in her looks, which from
that time infused Sweetness into my heart unfelt before, And into all
things from her air inspired The spirit of love and amorous delight."
Then she disappeared. The dream haunted him in his waking hours. In
the gallery of the Louvre there is a picture of Henry IV becoming
entranced by the picture of his future wife, and next to it is the picture
of the proud man being married to the woman whose face in the picture
had once captivated his fancy. Those pictures were the realization of
the one described in Milton's verse. Adam saw in Eve the realization of
his dream, and was happy when he welcomed to his embrace this first
gift of God, which met his want and answered his prayer. God created
man not only a social being but an intellectual being. A beast can mate
with beasts. They do so. A distinguished writer says, "the family
relation is almost universal among the higher classes of animals."
Adam's immortal nature longed for a kindred spirit. One to commune
with, one to love, one to guide, one to look at life from another
standpoint, one whose opinions should be diverse, and yet alike in
difference, one to help in all the affairs of life, not only for the
propagation of the species, but to provide things useful and comfortable
for him, and like himself in temper, in disposition, and destiny. One to
whom God shall be a loving Father, and heaven a common home. One
with whom soul can join with soul in worship and love. A kindred
spirit. A spirit having a common love, a common purpose, a common
aspiration, and a common interest.
This longing for companionship was the earliest recorded emotion of
the soul. It comes earliest to us and stays longest. In childhood, very
often, instinct and desire rule wisely, and matches formed in heaven are
recognized in life's morning on earth far oftener than