The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-17

spoke at Two Services to Large Con-
gregatiOus

spoke at Two Services to Large Com
gregatiOns.
Inc interest in the English teacher.
Henry Varley, increases daily. All sorts
OF people attend his services Those who
are not accustomed to so to such meet
ings go to them. To many the Bible is
becoming new book.
The First Baptist Church was crowded
yesterday morning. Mr.. Varley gave an
historic sketch of the patriarch Jacob. 1t
may De said that ii was a mastery ad-
dress. The incidents referred TO lived
afresh before the audience. Dealing with
the fact of Jacobs meanness, deception
and sin, Mr.. Varley said; MANY men
stumble against the Bible, because in its
geographic sketches nearly all the princi-
pal characters are seen doing that which
Is evil There is scarcely che that is not
guilty of the commission of sin.
ms the preacher said, is admitted.
put IL must be remembered that God did
not design the Bible to be a picture gal
Iery INTO which we are invited 10 enter
ana look upon splendid specimens of HUI
manlty. Such a thought in any mans
inlhc would be sure to mislead. The OBJ
Ject OF the writing of mems characters by
the spirit OF God in the Scriptures is TO
snow that all men everywhere are sin
ners, and that they need to be redeemed
from self sin and death and made par
takers OF the pure and holy nature of
CHRIST Jesus the Lord. Mr.. Varley showed
IN many things how very defective ia
cobs conduct and natural character was.
mat he was rightly named Jacob his
name indicating that he was a decejver
ana supplanter. Referring to Jacobs
deception of his father Isaac Mr.. Var
ley said that nothing could Justify such
conduct. The fact that his mother was
probably the prime mover in the great
wrong did not alter the painful fact.
Inc preacher then showed how Jacobs
sin against Esau reused his Indignation
and wrath, and led him to declare that
when his fathers death took place he
would take Jacobs life. This threat drove
Jacob from home. He went 10 Padan Aran.
where his Uncle Laban lived. There he
spent twenty years, where in turn he
was deceived and wronged again and
again by his covetous and grasping rela-
tive. Laban deceived Jacob about his
daughters, obtained fourteen years of in
cessant service from his nephew for them.
He changed his wages and oppressed him.
In fact Jacob for twenty years is seen
reaping the harvest of his own sins He
was finding out the ruth of Gods word
that whatsoever a man soweth that shall
he also reap" He never saw his beloved
mother again. She was dead when Jacob
returned and The wrath Of Esau was still
burning in his breast and crying for VEN
geanee.
After giving some most interesting de-
tails, Mr.. Marley dealt with the fact of
Jacobs wrestling with the angel. He de-
ciined to follow the ordinary explanation
that Jacob overcame the angel. The facs
was, Said Mr.. Marley, that Jehovah was
seen In contention with Jacob; that hav-
ing borne with his self-Hlll and want of
submission for years, He came aside in
order to a time of crisis God bore with
Jacob from shutdown TO sunrise the next
morning, and when He saw that He pre-
vailed not against him He put his thigh
out of Joint. The idea of Jacob overcom-
ing God is neither rational or Scriptural.
God does not need our wrestling. The fact
is God famed Jacob for life; crippled him
in the place of the natural mans strength.
''It must be obvious to you ALL" said Mr..
Varley, that If l was wrestling with
man and put his thigh out of joint wrest-
ling is at an end. He cannot any longer
continue his opposition; his strength is at
an end Thus il was with Jacob after all
his scheming to appease Esau he Is now SO
crippled that he cannot mount horse
ar mule to make good his personal escape
from Esaus wrath Though Jehovah
has crushed Jacobs natural strength. it
is not his arms, but his loins that know
dislocation Jacob can still hang on to
God. and he does it, He says now In
the boldness of submission, I will not let
thee go, except Thou bless me, and God
did bless him and changed his name from
Jacob to Israel from the deceiver to
prince of God.
s'Eh. sirs.' said Mr.. Marley, eff such .
change can come from one nights con-
tact with God, ii Is worth being crushed.
The sun went down upon Jacob as a de-
ceiver. The next morning the sun rose
upon him a prince of the house of God,
for such is the meaning of the new name
Israel"
From this point Jacobs success is seen.
AS a prince he had power with God and
with men, and prevailed, as the sequel
clearly shows
At night the church was crowded to the
doors, and whilst 1t is difficult to com
pare Mr.. Varley's addresses it may be
said that his unfolding of the parable of
the Prodigal Son was one of his happiest
efforts. So fresh and suggestive, glisten-
ing with the gold of divlnely inspired
thoughts, the people drank in the words
of our welcome visitor.
Mr. Varley will continue his meetings a
few days longer when he will return to
Philadelphia, and thence to England. He
will conclude his work here Friday night
when a farewell meeting will be held The
subjects for the morning services during
the week are as follows:
Monday-"Faith's Timepiece Concluded"
Tuesday-"Is Christ's Second Coming
Near?'
Weduesday-"The Great Events of His
Coming"
hursday-"Christ the Believers Sa-
WORT
Friday-"What Is 1t to Abide In Christ"