Again, in reading this story some will be surprised to find no mention made of the mother’s grief when her youngest child was slain, and that no mention is made of the mother’s death.  We know that after Seth was born, Adam lived eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters; but woman’s curse bore fruit.  Men ruled over her, and her individuality was lost in the headship of Adam.  Do not blame me for saying it; I simply declare the fact.  This state of things continued until Christ came.  When Mary gave birth to Jesus, woman resumed her place.  The curse was met by its antidote.  From God came the wave of influence which met the wave that flowed out from Eden, the conflict began, higher and higher rose the flood, until the ark of hope by it was placed on the mountain peak of human history, in sight of all races, and tribes, and peoples of the whole world.  Calvary is set over against Ararat, as Mary is set over against Eve.  After the birth-song of Eden came the tragedy, in which Abel lost his life and Cain his character.  After the birth-song of Bethlehem came the tragedy of Calvary, in which Christ gave up his life, that he might open to man, enveloped in the ruins of the fall, a way back to the Eden in reserve for the redeemed.

In speaking of Eve as a mother, there is little that can be said founded on fact.  Eve passes from sight, though the prophecy, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thee on the head, and thou shall bruise him on the heel,” worked on, and lived on, and found its fulfilment in the triumph won by Christ.  It is certainly significant, that Eve, through whom sin came, should pass out of the world’s mind, and Mary, through whom Christ came, should vault to a seat in the affections of a world?  Is it not also significant that Mary should become an object of worship to many millions of people in this and in other lands, and that Satan, through Mariolatry, should strive to do in the New Dispensation what he wrought by Idolatry in the Old?  The opposition of Satan runs on.  The purposes of God run on.  The prophesies of the Word of God abide, and are sure of fulfilment, in spite of Satan.  Against prophecy combinations of men and nations have united; but the truths sweep on resistlessly, and reach the destination for which God ordained them.

The curse that came to woman in the hour of her fall rested on her until Christ came.  “Unto thy husband shall be thy desire,”—­an expression of subordination and dependence.  “He shall rule over thee,” expresses the general effect of the apostasy on woman’s relations in the married state.  The stronger party in this relation, instead of being the guardian and protector of the weaker, did use his superior power to oppress and debase her.  Such has always been the case, except so far as the influence of revelation has counteracted the evils of the fall, such is the case to-day.  Woman owes her recognition to Christ, and she is indebted for her position in the civilized portions of the world wholly to the gospel.  Wherever Christ is not worshipped woman is despised.