Hosea 12:14

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE, Reader! and behold how God honored the Patriarch Jacob, a thousand years after his ashes had been mouldering in the dust! Behold what praise the Lord bestowed upon his servant's gallant faith; and learn from hence, how costly such sacrifices are in his sight, when coming up before him in his dear Son's name. Oh! that you and I may learn here from to wrestle with God in prayer, that like the Patriarch, we may have strength in the same source, and have power with God to prevail.

But, Reader! while looking at Jacob, let us not overlook Jacob's Lord. It is Jesus, that as a prince and a Saviour hath power with Jehovah, and hath prevailed. By his own righteousness, and by the incense of his merits and atoning blood, he comes off victorious, and must prevail Father! I will! is the language of our Lord. And while his pleadings are all for his redeemed, what is there then can be withheld, to the all powerful, all prevailing intercessions of his priesthood? Precious Lord Jesus! give me to see thee in thy daily office; now thou art entered into the presence of God for thy people. Thou hast indeed, like the Patriarch Jacob, thy type, served for thy wife, as he did for his; and dearly indeed purchased thy Church with thy blood. Oh! keep, Lord, thy redeemed, with thy power, and preserve them to thine eternal kingdom, and be thou, the Lord God of hosts, our everlasting memorial.