New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-21
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HELPFUL LESSONS FROM JACOBS LIFE DRAWN


BY THE PASTOR OF ST. JAMEs's CHURCH.
The wisdom Of lengthening the possible term OF
service In the Methodist Episcopal Church mas seiooh
been illustrated in satisfactory manner uah
In the OF DR.. j. Z. Price, Of ST. James's Church
in Harlem. lie has been there practically three
working years, and under the former rules change
would have been necessary next week But he has
been successful in building up this church That his
Official board. it is said, has requested the Bishop 10
send him back md pledge of their loyalty have
voted him an increase Of salary During his pastor
ate 200 members have been added 10 the church. and
about rs many more have been received on probation
improvements on the building have been made at an
expense of about $4,000. DR.. Price is not only an
efficient pastor and an eloquent preacher, but he Is
also a born leader as has been shown In fact by his
success in pushing forward the Epworth League he
was a professor in Pennington seminary Tor some
years before entering upon pastoral work, and has
had several important charges.
Dr. Prices subject yesterday morning The
Transformed Name" the text being: And he said
Thy name shall be called more Jacob, but Israel
for rs Il prince hast thou power with God and with
men, aud hast prevailed Genesis, Xxxii 2oJ The
in part AS follows:
The scene Of this memorable incident is laid at one
Of the lords Of the historic Jsbbok IL was night ana
all nature hshed into repOsc. Only Tile Dealcd
note Of wild bird or the cry of some wild BEAST
occasionally interrupted the profound silence. Inc
from eternitys Stiffness, and perhaps the moon walk
ing queenlike and trailing her garments over lhe
sapphire iOOr Of heaven, nOselessy dnused her siVeS
llght forest and field, over lake ana streaihlS'
Amid the solitude aud Quietude profound, upon Tue
banks OF the stream appears the inquire O man Do"ihS
III an agony Oi supphcatlOh. On before MN De ms
lis train of attendant, and his entire household
including even Rachel the wife of his heart n grave
crisis is at hand and Jacob must be alone with Tod
Happy the who In HES rush and agitation. pas
learned to lind quiet place apart, where he may eaten
the divine message ana near "haI lhe you VI D"'"e9
mas 70 say to him upon the eve of great conflict
And, 10. now appears mysterious stranger, a iHav-
cnly warrior, and wrestles with him. Brave, seitOh
hdcmt. strong in his carnal nature Jacob seeks WIN
struggle continues until the dawn, when the stranger
toIch, the strongest sinew in Jacobs body and that
on Wsich the wrestler mostly depends, ana behold IL
less I'm the hands Of his antagonist Jacob deSpairs Ot
winning the mastery. But that touch Of the stranger
lad revealed his divine nature to the quick sprtuai
conceptions of Jacob and, instantly dropping The
carn0 he takes up the spiritual weapon-prayer. III
the words Of Hosea lie wept ana made supplcatl0h
and had power the angel and prevailed" The
narrative whose tone and color parake OF the myseI
shades Of night under which 1t moves represents
te stranger yielding to the importunate entreaty,
and granting the blessing giving new name to the
suppiant and vanishing with the breaking OF the day.
The preacher then gave a glance at the familiar his
tory showing the sharp contrast between the brothers
Ei and Jacob, showing how the latter secured power
The conditions Of this perfect triumph of the higher
nature and OF this me;sureess power. made clear.
There must be absolute surrender OF the HE 10
God in honest repentance and confession; Jacob must
1t meant confession of the sin, the meanness, the
dark deception of his earlier life. That name had
must tell his name before he IS blessed Confession
and humiliation before God, opening up the life to
the purity Of God. the imperiousy eXacting con
ditions Of power with Cod. lie who would have In
Guencc with men for good, must live with God. The
stream that shall come singing It's trlumphant way
down the slopes and flow broad aud life giving through
many Lands, must DE born amid the pure SHOWS that
Another condition is found in an unfaerng faith
that en,ts every faculty Of the being ana b s" irli
lone
forth the triumph of faith. This il the faculty 10y
which we grasp the forces of the spiritual; Faith
behold I'm His universe one vaStltude Of power
tcrmned by our capacity, and our capacity Is
I'm proportion our faith. over against our
week.-mrs., and helplessness and need. il the bound
los, ocear q; God power, tdelcss and calm. tallh
opens our hearts and lives 10 the liho" vi u"S
Faith. il i, true. has a natural operation in our
selves tending 10 give as tencity OF purpose, SlTe
~, ,eNs eS M @ncrgy Even csrnalized faith
blended with religious sentiment transformed a MoD
Of Wild Arabs into an army Of conquest tlat De
came "A scourge and terror to every civilized land
Sut faith that is loftily spiritual grasps Gods power
nd makes rs simply OmnipOtent for any Work We
are called upon to do a. His servants. Faith lfts
man 10 ctcrnitys level The seductive voices OF sln
nl pleasures are drowned In the heavenly ilu1 h
that makes tremulous the atmosphere IN Whch me
Christian moves. The pomps Of ne seem poor au ians
able him whose eye rests on the endurihs @ Is
and the spiritual verties The opposing FORCES uil
threaten destruction no longer isen e"S Cola and
who can lift his vision rom me paltle-n"la alu
g,Ie mt will upon the great white throne and Inn
Who sits upon il. Jacob no longer fears TO encounter
E,au now that he is a prince oil Goa.
Jacob', triumph may be our If we so deter
mine Every man has a lower ANA hlther nature
I'm ccaseles, conflict. The past may be II record of
failures but through Gods grace In Jesus CHRIST we
conqTer The eXpeence Of many ya soq III Vino VINO
simple lines OF the familiar hymn:
The mistakes OF my life havo Aeen many,
The sins OF nv heart have been more
And / scarce see for weeping,
But III enter the open door
My mistakes His free grace will cover,
NV sins He will wash away,
And the feet that shrink and falter
Shall walk through the gates Of day.
Besides for every man there waits a throne OF
power We may misuse HES opportunities ana re
fuse Iifos endowment. God wants to make the most
Of possible lie plies us with divine arguments
llmitless patIimony. He girdS US with exceeding
great and precious promises lie bids US fairly
I'm uriate I'm the sweet of conquest. We are
10 come OF more than conquer0Is.' our WORK
done amid encouragement shall abide: "They that
sow in tenrs shall reap In joy We are on the
winning side HIS Kingdom goes forward To triumph
and triumph with IT, We read OF thrOheS' 10,
minions Kingdoms aud shall reign forever ana
ever" III, - i,
o. brother have you Il hard light with your old.
evil naturel Don't give up. beg you not 10 sur sur,
render struggle on as did TINS smele nerT so ms
with Gods help will come TO the throne. o, be
man strike for victory. Fix your face AS u flint
for Heaven. Lay hold on Goa. Determine h u nase
Inc Jordan Of death. God may say 10 YOU In clear
emphatic voice: AS prince thou hast prevailed
strive then. for the Transformed name. 10 sum
ma DE surrender your heart and life To God Have
homndless faith in Him. He will lead your spiritual
nature To It's rghtful throne. Pie Will give you the
andowment Of power with God and with man, and
bid YOU as His 90 forward IN the ever Frightening
path haloed forever with the holy light OF victory.
"a cLcared bv the pacanS OF conquest, whose music