The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-17

discipline really 10, and the story OF how
this man was changed from Jacob to Israel
is helpful to us all. It was real spiritual
education Ito 5 but education mean: s s.s to draS
thing which has been implanted. aad that
something must be the divine, nature. Dis
cipline for the man who is not Christian
is failure. You will remember when Jacob
was at Haran he began. to be discon::
tented with his lot, and the craftiness Of
his nature was constantly growing, 20
God sent him away from the place. He
had everything . man could want, but hs
must become q wanderer il he would GO
Of Us have learned that that which is loss
for Us has been gain for Christ, and SUI.
fering is a good thing. but il II comforting
to know that the hand that stirs the nest
is the hand OF Christ and the hand that
leads out is the one that 10 pierced by the
nails, while the one that goes before us u
the good Shepherd Himself. He will not
lead Us too far nor suffer us 10 be tempted
above that we are able to bear. The love
Of God often means discipline. People or
dina:ily have low ehouHhts Of love; they
only. count that love which caresses and
sooths and makes Of itself shield that no
no notion of love that can say no, q love
that can use the rod and the seourge and
call the object Of its power TO pass through
the fire, and it IL interesting to hear the
Scripture declare concerning God and
Jacob. Thou are Jacob whom ] have
loved" vet his life was one long struggle
filed with constant disappointment. How.
ever, It Is true that every trial and every
disappointment was a step nearer his
princely nature. I myself would take
every trial he had and every disappoint:.
,n-t l.. ,~~,Il >~I,rn kn.pk
ache II only / might become Q prince hav-
ing power with God and with men.
".
We are nearing the time when his name
Is to be changed. Behind him is Laban,
before him Esau, for be IL coming nearer
to him constantly, and he Is afraid: Above
him Is God. He has come to Jabboks
ford, the loneliest place in the Holy Land.
One could not easily remain there the night
through. He has reached the loneliest
hour Of the night: across the Jabbok IL HE
property. his children, his beloved Rachel,
and Jacob was left alone. Around him the
profound silence Of the desert place, beside
him the mu-mur Of the brook az Il hurries
studded with stars. This 10 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 il between him and power.
Notice first, how Jacob holds on to the
angel. Il is q marvellous thing how long .
man can hold out against God. Some Of us
bave been doing It for years.
Notice, second, that the angel touched
the hollow OF bis thigh. Whatever enables
q soul TO hold out against God He win
touch. II may be pride, wealth, affection,
it may be something natural; as sinew
4 . - h..k ia xzslI
it. can see Jacob struggle in the angels
embrace. and then behold him coming
away with 0 new name; he Ii Israel, tho
prince. The way to prineeliness IL the way
OF sure surrender. We must yield ourselves
TO God fer power afterward. It il said he
called the place Peniei, for said he. II
have seen God face 10 face" and as he
crossed over Jabbok the sun rose. Doubt
less he felt as II he had never seen 1t rise
NY dear friend. Mr.. 8. II. Hadley. the
morning after his conversion said as he
opened his eyes ana looked out Of the win
dow. why, il this heaven? ! have never
seen the sun shine like this, and are those
the trees Of life; for I have never seen
trees like these" and yet they were the
was shining yesterday. but he was looking
with the power OF new vision. Oh. may
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 TO She.
chem Somebody has said that douhtisS
his wife might have said to him, "It q far
better for US to live in the city rather than
the plain; it viii be better for our chill.
drrn. they will become more cultured"
and they went to Sh,chem only to make
the greatest shipwreck Of their home, and
thev turned away from il after. while
with broken hearts. and God said 20 him.
"Arse. and go up to Bethel and dwell
there" Christians suffer spiritual declina'
ton for very many reasons, but in this ex.
preston to-day ] have the secret Of a re.
ncwed conservation. It il necessary. in
these davs il Christians are to be as they
would like to be for them to pray as they
used to pray. read the Bible as they used
tn read il. Weld themselves to God as they
did in former times and the old 10Y will
come back with increasing force. II We are
to have times of blessing in the days to
rome the individual who IN the leader OF Q
home must 60 back to Bethel and live in
his home as he used to live. and the church
must 90 hack tn Bethel and be filed with
the Spirit OF God as she was in other
dave. But the end hiss come ut last, the
scaffo!dinS il taken down from about this
wonderful character. life has been o long
strurgle with him. the last word is snoken,
the last command is given. the Jacob look
IL leaving his face. the Israel nature has
gained control. He was prince indeed.