An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of…

He had power with God; in this great distress that he was in he doth not lie down as a man discouraged, but ¹he […]rs up what strength he had, and he falls a wrestling, a wrestling with this man, even with God thus appearing against him as an enemy: Oh! thus should the seed of Jacob do, you that are the seed of Jacob, for so specially your praying Christians in time of distress are called by the seed of Jacob, [I said not to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain.] They are not called the seed of Abraham, but of Jacob, because Jacob was so eminent in praying in so great extremity, the seed of Jacob should do so, every little opposition that comes upon a sluggish heart, a heart that hath low and mean principles, sinks him presently, I say, take a man or woman that hath but low and mean principles, every little opposition presently damps his spirit and maketh him yield and bows him down, and they are ready to say all is gone if they are but opposed a little; Oh! art thou of the seed of Jacob? the seed of Jacob should never think their condition to be so sad, but there may be recovery; Is it a great affliction that is upon me? am I in great distress? let me so much the more stir up my strength. As I remember it was said of Alexander, that when he was in a great danger, saith he, Now there's a danger fit for the mind of an Alexander. So, doth God bring into great straights? now there's a straight fit for a gracious heart, for one that is partaker of the Divine Nature to encounter with; stir up therefore what strength thou hast, do not say, I shall never be table to overcome this difficulty, do not say so, for you are not in greater straights than Jacob was at this time, and yet mark, Jacob had power, and stirs up his power. ⟨p. 233⟩It may be you have that strength that will do more than you are aware of, the grace of God is mighty in the hearts of his Saints: Have you never been enabled to do more than ever you thought you should have been enabled to have done? he stirs up his strength, he doth not lie down sullen and discouraged; as it's usual for Christians to do if God doth but afflict them, and specially if he draws but the light of his face a little from them, presently they lie down discouraged, and will not be comforted: Oh! thou doest not show thy self to be of the seed of Jacob, thou hast not the spirit of thy Father Jacob in thee.

He had power with God; in this great distress that he was in he doth not lie down as a man discouraged, but