i11vestigation. We see the way in which a skilful counsel will break down the most plausible evidence by probing into its weak places; how he will worm secrets out of the most reticent witness. 'l'ruth is often revealed through antagonism. The man who prides himself on hoodwinking his fellows is foolish and short-siuhted. If his insincerity is not discovered on earth, it will be revealed at the great judg~nent. Ver. 22.-The blessedness of true mar1·iage. The Bible does not reunrd marriaue 0 as "a failure," nor does it treat celibacy as a more saintly condition. Ev:n St. Paul who does not seem to have been a married man, and who is thought by some to unde;value marriage, gives to it a eulogium in describing the union of husband and wife as a copy of the mystical union of Christ and his Church (Eph. v. 22-32). I. THE DLESSEDJIESS OF MARRIAGE. I. The companionship ef love. The creation of woman is ascribed to the need of this. ".And the Lord God said, It is not <>ood that the man should be alone" (Gen. ii. 18). In a true marriage a man's wife i; his best friend. Fellowship of soul makes the union more than a mere contract of external relationship. Now, this fellowship is greatly needed for solace amid the cares of life, and strength to face its difficulties. The wife is able to give it to her husband, and the husband to the wife, as no persons in the outer circle of social relationship can hope to offer it. 2. Mutual helpfulness. In the narrative of the creation, God says, con- cerning Adam, "I will make him a help meet for him" (Gen. ii. 18). \Voman is degraded when she is treated as a toy of idle hours, to amuse in the drawing-room, but not to take her share in the serious concerns of life. No true woman would desire so idle a position. The wife who understands the Christian calling will aim at ministerina to her husband in all ways of helpfulness that are within her power, but chiefly i~ he] ping his higher life; ,\nd the duty of the husband towards the wife will be similar. 3. Variety of ministration. The wife is not the counterpart of the husband, but the complement. Human nature is completed in the union of the two. Therefore it is not the part of women to imitate men, nor is inferiority to be assigned to women because they differ from men. The rich, full, perfect human life is attained by the blending of differences. II. TuE SECRET OF THIS BLESSEDNESS. No ideal of human life can be more beautiful than that of the happy home. The serious question is how it shall be realized. I. By adaptation. Every woman is not suitable for every man. Hasty courtships may lead to miserable marriages. So serious a matter as the choice of a companion for life is not to be lightly undertaken if there is to be any hope of its issuing in happiness. 2. By sympathy. There must be mutual confidence between husband and wife if the marriage is to be one of true and lasting blessedness. The Oriental cruelty of imprisonment in the harem, and the Western cruelty of degradation in domestic drudgery, are both fatal to the idea of marriage. Whatever be their position in the social scale, it is possible for husbands and wives to share one another's interests and enlarge one another's lives by conceding the fullest mutual confidence. 3. By self-sacrifice. Selfishness is fatal to marria"e. Love must learn to give, t-0 suffer, to endure. The happiness is most complete when each seeks it chiefly for the other. 4. By religion. The true marriage must be ratified in heaven. Its happiness may be wrecked on so many hidden rocks that it is not safe to venture on to the unknown sea without the assurance that God is guiding the voyage. Ver. 24.-" The Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Without determining for certain which of the various renderings of the first clause of this verse should be adopted, there can be little d?ubt that it poin~s to the difficulty of mai~ta.ining a wide circle of friends in true affect10n, contrasted with the blessedness of enJoyrng one deep and real friendship. The second cause which describes that friendship claims our attention on its own account. I. THE NATURE OF BROTHERLY AFFECTION. If the true friend is even more than a brother, he will have the marks of brotherhood in an exceptional degree. Now, we have to ai;k-What are those peculiarities of the relation of brotherhood that deter- mine the brother's affection? 1. Blood-rel,ationsltip. We must all feel the peculiar onenese that belongs to membership in the same family. 2. Olose companionship Brothers are usually brought up together. They share the same hardships, o.nd they orr. xvm. 1-24.) THE PROVERBS. 351
enjoy the· Bflme family fnvours, They are knit together by similarity of experience. 3. Community of intcreBtB. Brothers share certain family interests in common. Thus families learn to.hold together for the general well-being of the members. 4. Similarity of constitution. Brothers resemble one another, more or less. To some extent they hnve common traits of mind, feelings, sympathifs, desires. Hence they are drawn together. How great and wonderful must be the friendship that exceedR even this close brotherly affection I Without the natural cause, it yet surpasses the love of brotherhood! II. THE SIGN OF BROTHERLY AFFECTION. It is seen in cleaving to one's friend. With the highest type of friendiihip this will be observed under the most trying circum- stances. 1. In spite of the lapse of time. Some friendships are but temporary. But brotherhood is litelong. So also is the truest friendship. 2. In sore need. Then shallow friendship proves'. to be false. But at such a time brother should stand by brother. 3. When faithfulness is costly. Possibly one is under a cloud and cruelly misjudged; the brotherly soul will claim this as the most suitable time for showing true affection. Or it may be that some great sacrifice must be made to render needed assistance; this requirement will discover the nature of a friendship, and show whether it be truly that of a brother. 4. W71en love is tried by indifference or enmity. Though a man be unworthy of his brother, still true brotherly love will not cast him off. This is also the case with the highest friendship. No doubt the object of Solomon was simply to give us a type and picture of true friendship. But as in a previous case (eh. xvii. 17), it is impossible for Christians not to recognize the application of the picture to Jesus Christ. His friendship is in all senses truly brotherly. He became a brother Man in order that be might enter into closest relations of love and sympathy with us, and he proves his friendship by doing more than any man ever did for his brother.