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."(1060) Their faith does not fail because their prayers 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
subs