The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-03-30

A score or moro of years have passed,
and we find him returning toward the
old spot. He Is an older and a wiser
man, but he has somewhat else to learn
as this lessen disclOs es. He Is TO dis
cover that derenderce on God Is power
with God. Yet his face Is set liz the
right direction at the outset Two In
cldents In the narrative 'ust preceding
our lesson give hint OF this. Jacob
fleeing, with something OF his old
craftiness, from Laban, his father-in-
law, overtaken, IL brought to make
covenant with his former master.
They build a heap OF stones for wit
ness. "And Laban called 1t Jegar Sa-
hadutha," strange, outlandish tongue,
but Jacob called 1t Called" 81: Az.
He had put the heather language and
life of his father-in-law behind him.
1t was virtual declaration of indie
pendence. The other incident Is at b:
], =: Jacob went on his way, and the
angels of Gcd met him, and when
Jacob saw them he said this is Gcd's
host; and he called the name of that
place Mahanaim," i. e., two hosts
Gods host and his own. Jacobs eye Is
open to see God. for his face is set Gen.
81: 49, to go his way and do his will.
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
Jacob lays good foundation for ap-
peal to Gcd. (l) o God of my father
Abraham, !. g., the God of the prom
lses. (2) (which saidst unto me, Re-
turn" etc. The covenant-keeping
God. The God who calls us out Is
bound to lea1 us cut. Trust him for
his grace. 1t is what the old sister
meant wien she said, ave his word
for it, and I'm holding him to it,"
But Jacob also seems to plead his
own unworthiness a; a ground for
blessing. 81 am not worthy of the
least of all thy mercies. How does
unw)rthiness constitute "a claim upon
Cod 1t Is not unfitness per sc, but
felt unfitness. Therefore it is all CT
CRATE through faith. God has prom
ised to help us in weakness and undone-
ness through the merits of Jesus
Christ, revealed in due time. "All the
fitness he requireth is to feel your need
of him"-saved by grace.
Notice the little word "for' in verse
10. For with my staff passed over, .
C. 1t Is plea number 4. First, Gods
promise to the fathers; second, Gods
personal call; third, Jacob own weak
ness: and now, fourth, Gods previous
Z,
hath the Lord helped" Therefore Is
future, he will help to the end. What
is the best thing you know abcut God?",
the writer asked an old saint, 81 years
old, sixty-fve years on the way. His
promises" was the answer. HE has
kept them every one, and will keep
them to the end" He will!
HINTS AND II.IIJSTR ALTOONA
Prayer. What a multitude Of good
thoughts suggest the nselves in con-
necticn with this theme. The little
folks will be particularly interested in
the beautiful story, the elder people in
the stirring lesson. Pray before the
lesson. Pray after it. Step in the midst
of the lesson and pray. Henry Mnbie
makes his missionary conferences c.
casions OF power The says they always
bring to him surprises, because of the
interspaces of devotional appeal. Come,
it is time to call upon God.
Pray, brethren. pray,
The day is dying;
Pray. brethren, pray,
For time Is flying
Yon turret strikes the dying chime
We stand upon the edge OF time.
Eternity is drawing near
Eternity Is drawing near!
PRAYER moves the arm of God, but ID
must be di ect, definite. Up the street
here lives man who has been the sub
Jet Of prayer for forty years or more.
But the pragers were for the most part
of general indefinite sort; people were
asking that something, scmeway, the
head of that family, his household
almost all in the church, might como
into tie kingdom. The other day his
pas tor was strongly moved to make
prayer in his case definite d direct.
He called to zoe the wife, an earnest
Christian soul Have you faith to be-
.ieve that yolr husband may 10 CON-
vertel st once?" YES" will you
join with me in direct, personal effort
to bring him, under God help, to full
and open decision?" yes" The next
day while the wife was praying in the
room above, the pastor, by an appoint
ment arranged by this Christian sister,
was talking and praying with the hus-
band below. 10, he was all ready for
the decision step. A few days ago he
was baptized and at the last co-Dmun-
ion SO vice a happy family sat down at
the cable of the Lord. Pray with a
purpc Sc, pray definitely, and let prayer
and works 60 together.
And yet Charles Sturgeon was not
one of those men who would spend
time in prayer which ought to be given
TO work. DIR. Northrup, there in Chi
cago when the great conflagration was
Sn, being asked ly the students wheth-
err they had better hold prayer meet
ing, sugge- ted that just at that time 1t
might be better to get buckets AMI go
TO work to help putting ont the fire.
Mr.. Sturgeon did not spend needless
hours in prayer. Having made his
earnest plea, urged the appropriate
promise he went calmly about his work
exI Getting the fulfillment, and so a
prince with God. He one time said to
DIR. Wayland Hoyt: Il never prayed
five minutes in my life for one thing"
But those five minutes Jacob at Jab-
box. Jabbok means emptying.
How do you pray?" You AMI are
glad DIR. Hoyt asked the dire ques-
ton. said Sturgeon: Il always find
particular promise, one against this
need of mine. Then simply plead the
promise and believe he will be true to
It," But the many financial burdens.
Don't they crush your" NO, the Lord
Is rood banker. / trust him. Fo