The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-12-05

u helpful 20 us all IL was real spiritual
education, but education means 20 draw
out, and YOU might draw out from some
thing which has been implanted. and that
something must be the divine nature. Dis
ciplIne for the man who - not a Christian
j. a failure. You viii remember when Jacob
was 81 Haran he began 20 be d.seon.
tented with his lot. and the eraftiness OF
his nature was constantly growing, so
God sent hlm away from the place. He
had everything a man could want. blt ne
must become a wandeTer IL he would 90
on 20 the Israel nature We doubtless all
Of US have learned that that which j. loss
/ Tor us has been gain for Christ. and saf-
tering - a good thing but IL l. comforting
70 know that the hand that stirs the nest
Is the hand Of Christ and the hand that
leads out Is the one hat j. pierced r~~the
nails. while the one that goes before u is
the good Shepherd Himself. He will not
! lead us too far nor suffer Us 20 be tempted
above that we are able % bear. The love
OF God often means discipline People or
dinarily have low thoughts OF love. they
only count that love which carpSsr- and
sOoths and makes Of Itself a shield that no
rough wind may blow upon Us They have
10 notion OF love that can say no. a love
that ran use the rod and the scourge and
call the object of It's power 70 pass through
the FIRE. and II Is interesting 20 hear the
Scripture declare concerning God and
Jacob. Thou are Jacob whom ! have
lpNtQs vet MS lie WAS one lolg struggle
filed with constant disappointment How
ever. il i true that every trial and every
disappointment was steD nearer his
princely nature. | myself would take
every trial he had and every disaproint-
ment he met would endure every heart
ache II only 7 might become a prince Eav-
ing power with God and with men.
".
We are nearing the time when hi. n'me
is 20 he changed. Behind him is Laban,
before MIN Esau. for he Is coming nearer
10 him constantly. and he is afraid Above
him Is God. He has come 70 Jabhok's
lord, the loneliest place in the Holy Land.
One could not easily remain there the night
through. He has reached the ioaeiest
| h1u. Of the night: across the Jabhok Is his
property his children. his beloved Rachel,
and Jacob was left alone Around him the
profound silence OF the desert place. beside
him the murmur OF the brook as 1t hurries
on 70 the sea. above him the heavens
studded with stars This Is not an Illus
tratiOn of Jacobs earnestness in PRAYER.
but rather the earnestness OF the angel OF
the Lord. who would take from Jacob that
which Is between him and power
Notice first. how Jacob holds on 70 the
angel. II is a marvellous thing how long a
man can hold out against God. Some OF US
| bave been doing it for years.
Notice, second. that the angel touched
the hollow Of his thigh. Whatever enables
Il soul 10 nOlu cut against 'Iol ne VIII
touch. II may be pride. wealth. affection,
il may be something natural. as 4 sinew
and as small as sinew. but He will touch
It. | can see Jacob struggle in the angels
embrace. and then / behold him coming
away with a new name; he Is Israel, the
prince. The way t0 princeliness i the way
of sure surrender. We must yield ourselves
10 God for power afterward. 1t is said he
called the nlace Peniel for said he. II
have seen God face TO face" and ~ he
crossed over Jabhok the sun rose. Doubt
less he felt as ii he had never seen 1t rise
before.
Ny dear friend, Mr.. S. II. Hadlcy, the
morning after his conversion said as he
opened his eyes and looked out of the win
dow "Why, is this heaven? ! have never
seen the sun shine like this. and arc those
the trees Of life for | have never seen
trees like these" and vet they were the
same trees and il was the same sun that
was shining Yesterday, but he was looking
with the power of a new vision. Oh, nav
God help us to come to the same expe-
rience to-day.
And Jacob went down and met Esau. and
then we are told he went over 20 She.
chem Somebody has said that doubtless
his wife might have said to him, 1T : far
better for us 20 live in the city rather than
the plain; it will he better for our chill
dren they will become more cuitured'
the greatest shipwreck OF their home. and
thev turned away from it after a while
with broken hearts, and G.d said 20 hm,
'Arisn. nrd 20 up to Bethel and dwell
there" Christians suffer spiritual declna.
tion for very MANY reasons, but IN this cX-
preston to-day ! have the secret OF a re-
ncwed conservation. It is necessary IN
these davs if Christians are to be as they
would like to he for them TO prav a. they
used to orav. read the Bible as they used
to read it. Weld themselves to God as they
did in former times and the Old 10Y viii
coTe back with increasing force. II we are
to have times Of blessing In the DAYS to
come the individual who Is the leader of a
home must 90 back to Bethel and i've IN
his home "a ne used 70 live. and the church
must 90 back to Bethel and be filed with
the Spirit OF God as she ~~@e IN other
DAYS But the end has come at last. the
! Scaffoldiug Is taken down from about this
wonderful character. life has been n long
struggle with him the last word is snoken,
the last command i given, the Jacob look
is leaving his faon, the Israel nature has
gained control. He was n prince indeed