The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-28
SUNDAY IN THE CHURCHES
Rev. B. F. Hammond, Of Narrenham,
In Second Presbyterian Church.
HOW JACOB MAS sUBJUGArED
Story Was Well Told and tho Lesson
Deity Applied-A Pleading for Con-
fessiou and the Reception
Of Gods Blessing.

REV. B. F. Hammond. of Warren
ham, Pa, occupied the pulpit of the
Second Presbyterian church yesterday
and pleased two congregations by as
many logical sermons, uncouched by
labyrinthical phraseology or destiny:
He Is quoted with a simple ana
Straightforward delivery and has the
faculty of winning the sympathy and
strict attention of his auditory.
His evening sermon was an interest,"
ing relation of the wanderings OF JACOB
and his final return to Israel where
he wrestled on the banks of the brook,
Ja'bbok, with Gods angel and where MS
pride and strength were broken. ia
cob's rebellious spirit and his hnal SUD
jugation was the lesson which Mr..
Hammond held out as q warning and
the eend an example.
The text was from Genesis, xxXli, q
and 2S, "And he said unto him What
Is thy name? and he said Jacob !"
"And He said THY name shall be
called no more Jacob but Israel: for as
a prince hast thou power with God and
with men, and hast prevailed" Be
ginning with the time of Jacobs de-
parture from home the reverend gen.
tleman said:
HE was but known, and after cheat
ing his brother and trickinR his poor
father It rs not strange that he left
home and for twenty years worked for
and dwelt with Laban in the land OF
the east. AFTER twenty years of SER
vice he started on a return pilgrimage
for home, the Promised Land, taking
with him his family and herds and a
retinue Of servants.
Esau Led the Way.
H. nroesaJ tt,o Tnrx1ou and hpQ ri
when ne came to the brook Jabbok that
Esau,his brother, was on the way
ahead Fearing to meet him he divided
his followers and herds and sent them
all ahead instructing the servants to
give all to Esau. He then sent Rachel
and the child Joseph across the brooR
and himself prepared to spend tine
ntsht on the bank of the stream"
Jacobs prayer for deflverance from
his brother was referred to as a piece
Of cowardfce and baseness, as would
be any prayer born of physical rear
and especially base because he had vio'
lated all his promises to a lendent God
"'And Jacob was left alone; a.nt
there wrestled a man with him unit
the breaking of the day.. This scene
said Mr.. Hammond. has often beer
Incorrectly described as Jacobs men
tai strife and prayer, but 1t should p'
considered literally a physical encount
or between one sent of God and the re.
bellious Jacob, who prided himself ir
his strength remaining and asked TO!
had not conquered, and suddenly founc
that the strength had been taken from
his legs and hips.
"Jacob then realized his weakness
and when his opponent strove to de
ma ri him Jacob clung to him with al
his strength remaining and arsked fol
a blessing. 1t was an awful lesson, oc
cupying almost a lifetime to he brought
to the heart of a wilful and sinful man
but one with the capabilities for grea'
good.
Wants Us to Receive His blessing.
$50 God wrestles with us to get u:
to that condition wherein we may re
ceive His blessing. 1t requires
strong arm to empty us Of self. tha
we may be filled with Him. We are
forced to admit we are the sinners fol
whom Christ died. The angel OF Goo
subdued Jacob, who in answer to th'
angels question said: I am jacob L
showed Jacobs humiliation, as by re
vealing himself he showed his weak
ness, or, rather, a strength inferior t
Gods. Then with Gods munifcenc,
he became mo more Jacob, but Israel
for as O prince hast thou power will
God, and with men, and hast pre-
vailed.
''This 1esslon is one of great powe
and meaning, and we should take 1t t
heart; let uJs confess our sins, oul
weaknesses, before God. He Is Ou
master. To Him we must look for ou
henpf1fav