The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-11
WORDS FROM THE PULPIT.
Continuation of Mrs. L. O. RObinSon's
Revival Work at Roberts Park.
The First of DR.. Gilbert's Series of Dis
courses for the Promotion of Evangel-
ical Religion in indianapolis.



The revival services at Roberts Park Church,
under the leadership of Mrs. Robinson, continue
to grow in interest She preached at the morn
ing services. yesterday, from Genesis, xxi, 81:
''Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but
Israel" God has at different times raised up
great men and sent them upon special
mission through the world to teach some
great truth, but never produces their like
again. If we wish to learn the lesson they
taught. it must be learned of them. God does
not duplicate these lessons. We must learn the
principles of civil government from Moses.
Elijah teaches US how to stand up for the right
against wicked rulers and fcale people. If
we study well Paul's letters to the churches, and
his exposition of the harmony of the Old
and New Testaments, we will learn that lesson.
But in the life of Jacob he illustrates everyday
life and the life of most men. Jacob has been
reproduced in all the ages, and we meet him
every day. Let US look at him. He did not
represent the worst character, by any means
He loved his mother, and was exemplary in much
of his private and public life. But he loved
money. wealth and power. See him contrivin g
to cheat Esau out of his birth-right. He has a
an unyielding purpose. He gets the blessing
and inheritance for mess of pottage and by a
trick; but then, like the Jacobs of this and all
ages. he found he had paid too much for it. He
is driven from home, without property, and, fol-
lowed by his faith ers frowns and brothers wrath,
he journeys towards the land of strangers He
lies down at Bethel and finds no rest How
many men have found that sin and deception
make stony pillows! Let not your
hearts be troubled at the seeming pros
perity of men that wrong you or get wealth
and power by tricks. God lets no such man es :
cape Sooner or later he reckons with him. and
always demands compound interest. Jacob mad
lost peace of mind aud home. He could
not sleep. and knew not whittier
to go or what to do. Then, like all men,
no matter what their creed or profession, wher
they are pressed on all sides by the hot walls of
Gods wrath, when they see that human power
prayed to God, and God heard him and accepted,
gave him peace OF mind, promised him wealth,
to go with him into his home among strangers,
and to bless his posterity. Some things even
God can't do. Jacob could not escape the
effects of the sins Of the past He never saw
his mother again. His fathers house was for
ever closed upon him. Essau breathed out
vengence. Now, God sent Jacob as He does
u
who know Him not The heather Laban and
he went into partnership in business. Jacob
prospered He married Rachel. Had happy
family growing up about him. but became more
and more selfreant and less and less reliant upon
God One day he thought that he caught La
ban planning to take advantage of him. The old
Jacob asserted itself He said, us that it, La
ban2 Wait and see if l don't keep even with
you, and, instead of illustrating Gods honesty,
he demonstrated his native craft and worldly
ruic2 dom Hoc cd iv,h IL oh nod
of Laban in the business, but disappointed God
and failed to demonstrate Gods will to the
heather around him. He was worth no more
than many Christians of this day. of whom it
tween them and the world. Beloved stop this
day and ask yourselves how you differ from un-
believers. May God help US to fulfill His mis-
sion, and not to take pattern from the world.
Now, Jacob concludes to leave that coun-
try, and starts back toward his native
land, taking his focks, family and wealth.
He wanted to find an easy place to be Chris
tian, would not try it further in the presence Of
Laban, who had tried to wrong him. Oh, how
many are hunting easy places. God wants you
and your enemies, and you run away,
hunting easy places to be Christians.
When we fail to do Gods work and initiate the
world. although we may have gained wealth and
worldly power. we have lost peace of mind and
love for the souls Of those about US. That is the
reason many persons can't ask persons to come
to this altar or talk with seekers. Yesterday
they saw you engaged with the world at its bust
ness that profteth not. Only at the card-table
or theater, possibly but somehow, after such
things you don't feel like asking your associates
to come to Christ You say there is no harm in
these things, but you must learn that no one
feels great anxiety TO ask the person they met
last night in the ballroom, theater, or at the
card-table, to come to Christ Beloved are you
failing to do Gods work? Laban overlook Jacob
at Padan Aram, tried to get him to go
back, even urged him to build an
alter and before God be reconciled; he made a
good and faultless speech on that occasion. But
all Jacob could say was You stay on that side
with your servants and fiocks and will stay on
this. Let me alone and will let you alone. "
Could not forgive, only wanted to be let alone
How long would it take such religion as that to
convert the world9 Is that all you are doing
brother, sisters Is it SO that you have so fol-
lowed the example of sinners. that there is no
difference IN your lives and that even you will
not forgive the brother that has sinned against
you? THE speaker here gave some touching IL
Illustrations falling under her own observations. J
Jacob journeyed on to Jabbok. Now he is on the
border land of his own country. But he learns
that his mother is dead and Esau is coming to
repel him with hostile soldiers He cannot turn
back. The darkness gathers about him, and as
he tries to sleep, the past life comes before him
He sees God is displeased, and he fears He has
forsaken him. and his fellow-man and even
brother are his enemies. God had sent angels to
him at Bethar. and he saw ladder, or way,
leading to heaven. Now Jacob prays and God
comes to him in person. Glory and honor be to
our God! He always comes to US when we call
on Him. He forgives as soon as the penitent
heart cries out to Him.
But now God is going 20 try Jacob. He de-
mands something more of Jacob than in the
past. He says, "Send present to Esau." and
causes him to make restitution as far as posi-.
ble He says the same to each of us this day.
Ii any wealth Is In any of your Golfers, got by
tuition before you may expect His favor God de
manded more than this. He said: First send
all thy fiocks and servants across the brook into
Esaus dominions." Then Jacob prayed again,
and God said: ''Send wives and children across
ALSO He did this and nothing was left on the
hither side but Jacob 'Now, God said ''giye
me Jacob" and over that Jacob wrestled all
night. He seems to have remembered all the
others with but few hours struggle. God said
tell me thy name You remember the name
meant supplanter, deceiver, ETC., and God asked