619
  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
  620
  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
  621
  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。
  622
  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　messengers
  who　bear　the　last　solemn　warning　to　the　world　would　pray　for　the　blessing　of
  God；　not　in　a　cold；　listless；　lazy　manner；　but　fervently　and　in　faith；　as
  did　Jacob；　they　would　find　many　places　where　they　could　say：　〃I　have　seen
  God　face　to　face；　and　my　life　is　preserved。〃　Genesis　32：30。　They　would　be
  accounted　of　heaven　as　princes；　having　power　to　prevail　with　God　and　with
  men。
  The　〃time　of　trouble；　such　as　never　was；〃　is　soon　to　open　upon　us；　and　we
  shall　need　an　experience　which　we　do　not　now　possess　and　which　many　are　too
  indolent　to　obtain。　It　is　often　the　case　that　trouble　is　greater　in
  anticipation　than　in　reality；　but　this　is　not　true　of　the　crisis　before　us。
  The　most　vivid　presentation　cannot　reach　the　magnitude　of　the　ordeal。　In
  that　time　of　trial；　every　soul　must　stand　for　himself　before　God。　〃Though
  Noah；　Daniel；　and　Job〃　were　in　the　land；　〃as　I　live；　saith　the　Lord　God；
  they　shall　deliver　neither　son
  623
  nor　daughter；　they　shall　but　deliver　their　own　souls　by　their
  righteousness。〃　Ezekiel　14：20。
  Now；　while　our　great　High　Priest　is　making　the　atonement　for　us；　we　should
  seek　to　become　perfect　in　Christ。　Not　even　by　a　thought　could　our　Saviour　be
  brought　to　yield　to　the　power　of　temptation。　Satan　finds　in　human　hearts
  some　point　where　he　can　gain　a　foothold；　some　sinful　desire　is　cherished；　by
  means　of　which　his　temptations　assert　their　power。　But　Christ　declared　of
  Himself：　〃The　prince　of　this　world　cometh；　and　hath　nothing　in　Me。〃　John
  14：30。　Satan　could　find　nothing　in　the　Son　of　God　that　would　enable　him　to
  gain　the　victory。　He　had　kept　His　Father's　commandments；　and　there　was　no
  sin　in　Him　that　Satan　could　use　to　his　advantage。　This　is　the　condition　in
  which　those　must　be　found　who　shall　stand　in　the　time　of　trouble。
  It　is　in　this　life　that　we　are　to　separate　sin　from　us；　through　faith　in　the
  atoning　blood　of　Christ。　Our