the great controversy-第124部分

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blessing。　The　Angel　urges；　〃Let　Me　go；　for　the　day　breaketh；〃　but　the
patriarch　exclaims；　〃I　will　not　let　Thee　go；　except　Thou　bless　me。〃　What
confidence；　what　firmness　and　perseverance；　are　here　displayed！　Had　this
been　a　boastful；　presumptuous　claim；　Jacob　would　have　been　instantly
destroyed；　but　his　was　the　assurance　of　one　who　confesses　his　weakness　and
unworthiness；　yet　trusts　the　mercy　of　a　covenant…keeping　God。

〃He　had　power　over　the　Angel；　and　prevailed。〃　Hosea　12：4。　Through
humiliation；　repentance；　and　self…surrender；　this　sinful；　erring　mortal
prevailed　with　the　Majesty　of　heaven。　He　had　fastened　his　trembling　grasp
upon　the　promises　of　God；　and　the　heart　of　Infinite　Love　could　not　turn　away
the　sinner's　plea。　As　an　evidence　of　his　triumph　and　an　encouragement　to
others　to　imitate　his　example；　his　name　was　changed　from　one　which　was　a
reminder　of　his　sin；　to　one　that　commemorated　his　victory。　And　the　fact　that
Jacob

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had　prevailed　with　God　was　an　assurance　that　he　would　prevail　with　men。　He
no　longer　feared　to　encounter　his　brother's　anger；　for　the　Lord　was　his
defense。

Satan　had　accused　Jacob　before　the　angels　of　God；　claiming　the　right　to
destroy　him　because　of　his　sin；　he　had　moved　upon　Esau　to　march　against　him；
and　during　the　patriarch's　long　night　of　wrestling；　Satan　endeavored　to
force　upon　him　a　sense　of　his　guilt　in　order　to　discourage　him　and　break　his
hold　upon　God。　Jacob　was　driven　almost　to　despair；　but　he　knew　that　without
help　from　heaven　he　must　perish。　He　had　sincerely　repented　of　his　great　sin；
and　he　appealed　to　the　mercy　of　God。　He　would　not　be　turned　from　his
purpose；　but　held　fast　the　Angel　and　urged　his　petition　with　earnest；
agonizing　cries　until　he　prevailed。

As　Satan　influenced　Esau　to　march　against　Jacob；　so　he　will　stir　up　the
wicked　to　destroy　God's　people　in　the　time　of　trouble。　And　as　he　accused
Jacob；　he　will　urge　his　accusations　against　the　people　of　God。　He　numbers
the　world　as　his　subjects；　but　the　little　company　who　keep　the　commandments
of　God　are　resisting　his　supremacy。　If　he　could　blot　them　from　the　earth；
his　triumph　would　be　complete。　He　sees　that　holy　angels　are　guarding　them；
and　he　infers　that　their　sins　have　been　pardoned；　but　he　does　not　know　that
their　cases　have　been　decided　in　the　sanctuary　above。　He　has　an　accurate
knowledge　of　the　sins　which　he　has　tempted　them　to　commit；　and　he　presents
these　before　God　in　the　most　exaggerated　light；　representing　this　people　to
be　just　as　deserving　as　himself　of　exclusion　from　the　favor　of　God。　He
declares　that　the　Lord　cannot　in　justice　forgive　their　sins　and　yet　destroy
him　and　his　angels。　He　claims　them　as　his　prey　and　demands　that　they　be
given　into　his　hands　to　destroy。

As　Satan　accuses　the　people　of　God　on　account　of　their　sins；　the　Lord
permits　him　to　try　them　to　the　uttermost。　Their　confidence　in　God；　their
faith　and　firmness；　will　be　severely　tested。　As　they　review　the　past；　their
hopes　sink；

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for　in　their　whole　lives　they　can　see　little　good。　They　are　fully　conscious
of　their　weakness　and　unworthiness。　Satan　endeavors　to　terrify　them　with　the
thought　that　their　cases　are　hopeless；　that　the　stain　of　their　defilement
will　never　be　washed　away。　He　hopes　so　to　destroy　their　faith　that　they　will
yield　to　his　temptations　and　turn　from　their　allegiance　to　God。

Though　God's　people　will　be　surrounded　by　enemies　who　are　bent　upon　their
destruction；　yet　the　anguish　which　they　suffer　is　not　a　dread　of　persecution
for　the　truth's　sake；　they　fear　that　every　sin　has　not　been　repented　of；　and
that　through　some　fault　in　themselves　they　will　fail　to　realize　the
fulfillment　of　the　Saviour's　promise：　I　〃will　keep　thee　from　the　hour　of
temptation；　which　shall　come　upon　all　the　world。〃　Revelation　3：10。　If　they
could　have　the　assurance　of　pardon　they　would　not　shrink　from　torture　or
death；　but　should　they　prove　unworthy；　and　lose　their　lives　because　of　their
own　defects　of　character；　then　God's　holy　name　would　be　reproached。

On　every　hand　they　hear　the　plottings　of　treason　and　see　the　active　working
of　rebellion；　and　there　is　aroused　within　them　an　intense　desire；　an　earnest
yearning　of　soul；　that　this　great　apostasy　may　be　terminated　and　the
wickedness　of　the　wicked　may　come　to　an　end。　But　while　they　plead　with　God
to　stay　the　work　of　rebellion；　it　is　with　a　keen　sense　of　self…reproach　that
they　themselves　have　no　more　power　to　resist　and　urge　back　the　mighty　tide
of　evil。　They　feel　that　had　they　always　employed　all　their　ability　in　the
service　of　Christ；　going　forward　from　strength　to　strength；　Satan's　forces
would　have　less　power　to　prevail　against　them。

They　afflict　their　souls　before　God；　pointing　to　their　past　repentance　of
their　many　sins；　and　pleading　the　Saviour's　promise：　〃Let　him　take　hold　of
My　strength；　that　he　may　make　peace　with　Me；　and　he　shall　make　peace　with
Me。〃　Isaiah　27：5。　Their　faith　does　not　fail　because　their　prayers

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are　not　immediately　answered。　Though　suffering　the　keenest　anxiety；　terror；
and　distress；　they　do　not　cease　their　intercessions。　They　lay　hold　of　the
strength　of　God　as　Jacob　laid　hold　of　the　Angel；　and　the　language　of　their
souls　is：　〃I　will　not　let　Thee　go；　except　Thou　bless　me。〃

Had　not　Jacob　previously　repented　of　his　sin　in　obtaining　the　birthright　by
fraud；　God　would　not　have　heard　his　prayer　and　mercifully　preserved　his
life。　So；　in　the　time　of　trouble；　if　the　people　of　God　had　unconfessed　sins
to　appear　before　them　while　tortured　with　fear　and　anguish；　they　would　be
overwhelmed；　despair　would　cut　off　their　faith；　and　they　could　not　have
confidence　to　plead　with　God　for　deliverance。　But　while　they　have　a　deep
sense　of　their　unworthiness；　they　have　no　concealed　wrongs　to　reveal。　Their
sins　have　gone　beforehand　to　judgment　and　have　been　blotted　out；　and　they
cannot　bring　them　to　remembrance。

Satan　leads　many　to　believe　that　God　will　overlook　their　unfaithfulness　in
the　minor　affairs　of　life；　but　the　Lord　shows　in　His　dealings　with　Jacob
that　He　will　in　no　wise　sanction　or　tolerate　evil。　All　who　endeavor　to
excuse　or　conceal　their　sins；　and　permit　them　to　remain　upon　the　books　of
heaven；　unconfessed　and　unforgiven；　will　be　overcome　by　Satan。　The　more
exalted　their　profession　and　the　more　honorable　the　position　which　they
hold；　the　more　grievous　is　their　course　in　the　sight　of　God　and　the　more
sure　the　triumph　of　their　great　adversary。　Those　who　delay　a　preparation　for
the　day　of　God　cannot　obtain　it　in　the　time　of　trouble　or　at　any　subsequent
time。　The　case　of　all　such　is　hopeless。

Those　professed　Christians　who　come　up　to　that　last　fearful　conflict
unprepared　will；　in　their　despair；　confess　their　sins　in　words　of　burning
anguish；　while　the　wicked　exult　over　their　distress。　These　confessions　are
of　the　same　character　as　was　that　of　Esau　or　of　Judas。　Those　who　make　them；
lament　the　result　of　transgression；　but　not　its　guilt。　They　feel

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no　true　contrition；　no　abhorrence　of　evil。　They　acknowledge　their　sin；
through　fear　of　punishment；　but；　like　Pharaoh　of　old；　they　would　return　to
their　defiance　of　Heaven　should　the　judgments　be　removed。

Jacob's　history　is　also　an　assurance　that　God　will　not　cast　off　those　who
have　been　deceived　and　tempted　and　betrayed　into　sin；　but　who　have　returned
unto　Him　with　true　repentance。　While　Satan　seeks　to　destroy　this　class；　God
will　send　His　angels　to　comfort　and　protect　them　in　the　time　of　peril。　The
assaults　of　Satan　are　fierce　and　determined；　his　delusions　are　terrible；　but
the　Lord's　eye　is　upon　His　people；　and　His　ear　listens　to　their　cries。　Their
affliction　is　great；　the　flames　of　the　furnace　seem　about　to　consume　them；
but　the　Refiner　will　bring　them　forth　as　gold　tried　in　the　fire。　God's　love
for　His　children　during　the　period　of　their　severest　trial　is　as　strong　and
tender　as　in　the　days　of　their　sunniest　prosperity；　but　it　is　needful　for
them　to　be　placed　in　the　furnace　of　fire；　their　earthliness　must　be
consumed；　that　the　image　of　Christ　may　be　perfectly　reflected。

The　season　of　distress　and　anguish　before　us　will　require　a　faith　that　can
endure　weariness；　delay；　and　hungera　faith　that　will　not　faint　though
severely　tried。　The　period　of　probation　is　granted　to　all　to　prepare　for
that　time。　Jacob　prevailed　because　he　was　persevering　and　determined。　His
victory　is　an　evidence　of　the　power　of　importunate　prayer。　All　who　will　lay
hold　of　God's　promises；　as　he　did；　and　be　as　earnest　and　persevering　as　he
was；　will　succeed　as　he　succeeded。　Those　who　are　unwilling　to　deny　self；　to
agonize　before　God；　to　pray　long　and　earnestly　for　His　blessing；　will　not
obtain　it。　Wrestling　with　Godhow　few　know　what　it　is！　How　few　have　ever
had　their　souls　drawn　out　after　God　with　intensity　of　desire　until　every
power　is　on　the　stretch。　When　waves　of　despair　which　no　language　can　express
sweep　over　the　suppliant；　how　few　cling　with　unyielding　faith　to　the
promises　of　God。

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Those　who　exercise　but　little　faith　now；　are　in　the　greatest　danger　of
falling　under　the　power　of　satanic　delusions　and　the　decree　to　compel　the
conscience。　And　even　if　they　endure　the　test　they　will　be　plunged　into
deeper　distress　and　anguish　in　the　time　of　trouble；　because　they　have　never
made　it　a　habit　to　trust　in　God。　The　lessons　of　faith　which　they　have
neglected　they　will　be　forced　to　learn　under　a　terrible　pressure　of
discouragement。

We　should　now　acquaint　ourselves　with　God　by　proving　His　promises。　Angels
record　every　prayer　that　is　earnest　and　sincere。　We　should　rather　dispense
with　selfish　gratifications　than　neglect　communion　with　God。　The　deepest
poverty；　the　greatest　self…denial；　with　His　approval；　is　better　than　riches；
honors；　ease；　and　friendship　without　it。　We　must　take　time　to　pray。　If　we
allow　our　minds　to　be　absorbed　by　worldly　interests；　the　Lord　may　give　us
time　by　removing　from　us　our　idols　of　gold；　of　houses；　or　of　fertile　lands。

The　young　would　not　be　seduced　into　sin　if　they　would　refuse　to　enter　any
path　save　that　upon　which　they　could　ask　God's　blessing。　If　the