The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-12-04

WuS dSlCtl tllul liz "a HH'
heaven. His ewes we're closed. his fever
had cooled. his excitement had Suhslded.
In other words he los, himself and then he
brhcId heaven. When We lose ourselves
this weary. selfish. busy, sctt-!lte o. ours,
we shall see Him.
The lark never sings when it is on the
ground. The moment it leaves the ground
it bursts into song, but Just the instant
that it fo.dS its wings 1t begins to drop 70
the earth. So let lis mount up this morn.
ing. and as we mount lei us rejoice that
our names, which in the o!den time stood
for suffcrings and sin may stand for power.
III.
What is thy name? and he might well
have said Teacher. for he teaches what
discipline really is. and the story OF how
this man was changed from JACOB to lsraei
is helpful to us all. 1t was real spiritual
education, but education means to 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 is not a Christian
is a failure. You vii, remember when Jacob
was at Haran be began; to be discon.
tented with his lot. and the craitiness OF
his nature was constantly growing 50
God sent him away from the place. ne
had everything 4 man could want puI nc
must become a "duuCISA "
on to the Israel nature. we DOUBTLESS all
OF us have learned that that which Is loss
for us has been gain for Christ, and SUIT
fering is a good thing. but it Is comforting
70 know that the hand that stirs the resi-
;s tbe hand of Christ and the hand that
leads out is the one that is pierced by the
nails. while the one that goes before us IL
the good Shepherd Himself. He Will nor
lead us too far nor suffer us to be tempted
above that we are able to bear. The iora
of God often means discipline, feop!c or
dina7ily have low thoughts OF IoFe' 'neS
only count that love which caresses ana
sooths and makes of Itself a shield that no
rough wind may blow upon US. they nave
no notion of a love that can say no. a love
that can use the rod and the scourge and
call the object of its power to pass thron"h
the fire. and it is interesting to hear the
Scripture declare concerning Coo ana
Jacob. "Thoa 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 sep nearer ms
nrincelv nature. l myself would take
every trial he had and every d~isappoint-
ment he met. would endure every heart
ache If oniv ] might become a prince kar-
inc power with God and with men.
".
We are nearing the time when his name
is 10 be changed. Behind him is Laban.
before him Esau. for he Is coming nearer
10 him constantly. and he is afraid: Above
him ls God. He has come to Jabbok <
lord, the ~loneiiest place in the Holy Land.
One could not easily remain there the nl"at
through. He has reached the ioneilrSt
! hour OF the night: across the Jab?oG Is ms
property. his children. his beloved Rach%!'
and Jacob was left a'onc. Around him the
profound silence OF the desert place. beside
! him the murmur OF the brook as il hur"lcs
ON 10 the sea. above him the heavens
studded with stars. This is not an Illus
tration of Jacobs carneStnesS in PRAYER:
! but rather the cGrnestness OF the ar,Sei OF
tnc Lord. who would take from Jacob that
which is between him and power.
Notice first. how Jacob holds on TO the
angel II is y marvellous thing how long Il
man can hold ont against God. Some OF us
have been doing it for years.
Notice. second. that the angel touched
the hollow of his thigh. Whatever enables
a soul TO hold out AGAINST God BE VIII
! touch. 1t may he pride, wealth. affection.
it may be something natural: as 4 sinew
| and as small as a sinew. but He VIII touch
il. 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 to Drlnce.iness Is the way
Of sure surrender. We must yield ourselves
to God for power afterward. 1t * SAID ne
called the place Pcniel. for said he. Il
have seen God face TO face and as he
crossed over Jabhok the sun rose. Doubt
less ne felt as il lc had never seen 1t rise
before.
Nv dear friend. Mr.. s. II. Haley. the
morning after his conversion said as he
opened his eyes AID looked out of the WIN
| dow. WHY. is this heaven? | have never
seen the sun shine like this. ard arc those
the trees OF life? for l have never seen
trees like these and yet they were the
same trees and it was the same SIM tnat
was shining Yesterday. but he was looking
with the power OF a new vision. Oh. may
God help us to come to the same eSpe-
riencc to-day.
And Jacob went down and met Esau. and
then we are told he went over to She
! chem. Somebody has said that doEbtless
his wife might have said to him. at IS lar
| better for us 10 live in the city rather than
| the plain: it will be better for our chill.
dren. they will become more cultured
and they went to Shechem only to make
/ the greatest shipwreck of their home. and
they turned away from it after a While
with broken hearts. and God said 10 hun.
Arise. and 90 up to Bethel and dwell!
| there" Christians suffer spiritual dec!lna-
ticn for very MANY reasons, but in this en-
| preston to-day I have the secret of a re-
newed conservation. It is necessary IN
these DAYS if 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
TO read i. weld themselves to God as they
did in former times and the old 10y will
come back with increasing force. If we are
to have times of blessing in the days to
come the individual who is the leader Of 4
home must 60 back to Bethel and live in
his home as he used to live. and the church
must 90 back to Bethel and be filled with
The Spirit of God rs she was in other
days. But the end has come at last, the
s~caffo!ding ia taken down from about this
wonderful character. life has been 4 long
struggle with him. the last word is ~Snoicn.
the last command is given. the Jacob Tool.
is leaving his face. the Israel nature has
gained control. He was a prince indeed.
A Discovery Worth Making.
A prisoner in one OF our State peniten-
tiaries writes that he thoroughly compTe-
1-