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day; or thirdly, it may have been to try Jacob’s faith and patienceo—to see if he would exert the same degree of faith in resting and relying as he had done in the combat, and also to see if he were willing to yield to the counsel and will of God.

Thirdly. What Jacob said, “I will not let thee go except thou help me.” First, Jacob asked a bless- ing—a present blessing. It was, Lord bless me now; and as God had often blessed him before, he, with the greater confidence, now asks for a blessing suited to his needs—his present circumstances. He was now in such a state that he durst not meet his brother Esau whom he had wronged, but if the angel would only bless him he would not be afraid.

Again, he wanted the blessing already conferred upon him renewed and ratified; yea, he wanted the blessing his father conferred to be obtained, ratified and confirmed—~the blessing which his brother de— spised. There is a great difference between the bless- ing of God and the blessing of his servants. When God blesses he does so in his own name; but when a servant of God blesses, he prays for a blessing— for the fulfillment of some precious promise; the blessing is not in his own name, it is in the name of that Jesus in whose name and by whose power Peter performed an admirable miracle on a lame man. What was the Apostle’s language? “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise and walk.” When Moses blessed the people it was in a divine name. Thus saith the Lord, in this wise shall ye bless the children of Israel, “T he Lord bless thee and keep

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