New-York tribune., 1874-05-04
JACOBS wREsTLNG-A TEST.

The Rer Robert soss fourenst Pres5gerdH cAurh
The Rev. Robert SlOss, Pastor of the -Four.
teenthst Presbyterian Church. at secondaYe preached
i'm the morning on subject of The Christian wrest
ing with God" selecting his text from Genesis, chap.
xxxii verse 2i "And Jacob left alone, aud there
wrestled man with him until tho breaking OF day.
The pastor then said substantially, that he who had
studied the features Of religious society might have
taken his own views of the declaration of submission to
the Will OF God but cases that which Is called
meek submission TO Gods Will is simply stupdity-the
practice Of an error by which the virtue OF Christian
resignation distorted The sitting quietly under the
heavy burdens OF trouble is not what God requires
This so-called submission manfess itself in several
WAYS one Of which is shown by constant weeping
another by passive resignation, presenting stold
'front.' This latter Is perhaps the worst KIND OF submis
sion TO manage one knowing what TO do with those
Christ different phase was manifested In his great
cup pass from me !" but with full knowledge OF GOis
purpose he added. Not as WILL but thine be done"
Christ the Man OF sorrow active aud
full There was no moping exhibited in his whole ife.
lt said ID another portion OF the Holy Scriptures that
Jacob gained the OF Israel not FOR giving way to
his adversary. but for wrestling with God aud prevail
ing against him. Let the Christian take comprehen-
siYe view Of the in text, aud the circum.
stances by which he was surrounded. There three
points for consideration; first the circumstances winch
surrounded Jacob when he began his contest; next.
what lie did under those circumstances and, third tho
weapon which ne used. FIrst-he was alone with mono
aid him. Those who had been and dear To
him had crossed the ford Perhaps he could bear to
see the sorrow Of those dear caused by
his crime He felt the conviction OF his sin, aud
knew he deserved punishment. He was also apprchen
bered that he had derauded Esau OF his birthrgh
had also obtained through the connvauce Of his mother
the blessing OF Isaac by fraud Atthe moment recorded
In the text he was suffering some Of the effects OF this
crime: He was alone IN the silence OF the night, wnen
the thoughts or the past Oft beset the sinner At
this solemn moment he saw before HIM the divine pres
figure is typiied the God.man jacob In his extremty
was brought into the closest contact with God whom no
then saw as person incarnae powerful aud apparently
ready 10 etusl Was not thls the experience OF every
Christanl II in their and agony they feel and
the form OF Him who is present la the stiffness
Of the night this unspeakaDe presence stares and
Christian feels himself in the presence only OF Cod At
these moments ne feels the consciousness OF his sins
hey all rise up 10 confront him, and he stands face
face with the just consequences OF his sins IL the
God had lorsaken him friend, and only present
as an indexi0le foe There are many times wnen We
especially when any presumed unseen danger appears
to be hanging over rhem Again. at the bed OF death.
when the sorrow such time. II see ms AZ Il
the Divine presence had come to grapple and
overthrow. At the times of calamity the feature
great great frss in the West, many. were deprived Of
teasSn tea% aons Az wisS sSc9 1od moment the struggle
It's beauties, Is OF little avail The face friend pure
aud simple. is blessing in the hour Of trial there
are moments when man finds himself alone IN the pres
ence or his God The question then L., we, In tho
wrestlo with themi This leads what Jacob Gld when
ne met with his adversary. Every mas studied
the aud muscles OF the body must be alive ani
supple every thought OF the mind be vigorous.
doubtless threw into the struggle merely his bodily
strength but as he ascertaned the supernunan nature
OF nls antagonist he wrrsted with him amid loud
ana tears Even when he felt the superiority OF his
agohist ne dd not then SIT down and say, fhy Will Do
done but he aroused himself continued the struggle,
and nnay prevailed over hls adversary There some
things life concerning which we are called upon TO
submit but there are other things against which tho
DIVINE Master Intended that We should into con.
Met aud overcome These have been forced upon Us tn
call forth our energies The hard labor OF the gymnasium
is necessary to bring out our muscular deyeOpment;
the constant application In the study needful
perfection OF the mental qualities. The highest school
or God trial. John In his vision vast host clad
white and asked who they were. The IT, These
are they That came out OF great trDulaon, and have
washed their robes In tho blood OF the Lamb" They
had not reached Heaven by any royal road t was by
wrestling with God and tribuatiOn. The OF
the woman who pleaded with Christ for her child Is
picture OF wrestling with God. For while He that sho
expected TO md all love stern and ine xble Even
te ausOn or christ that it not lawful take the
ehdrens bread and give II 10 the dogs" did not
het 70 cease her opportunities. She wresed with Hun,
ahu HIS reply, Great Is thy faith be II with thee
thou wilt showed clearly that she had prevailed 40
jacob although, he felt the superbunan power which
deprived him or the OF hp threw his around
MS adyersary's neck and cried, Will not let thee ~
unless thou bless me-" Great his faith and this
faith the weapon he used secure tho victory Tho
Christian should always employ IT, GOd can ALWAYS
overcome by fah. whichis great central power Tnen
let the Christian stl continue wiIn God and
having overcome the adversary lie will give hm tho
Crown OF Lie.