CHAPTER XVII.

THE DISEASE SPREADING, OR A LYING WIFE.

Now Rachel had taken the images and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them.-Gen. 31:34.

Beginning with the thirty-third verse we learn how Laban searched for his images. First into Jacob's tent, then Leah's tent, and on into the two maidservants's tents he went "but found them not." Back into Leah's tent and then to Rachel's tent. She had hidden the images in the camel's saddle, and sitting down on them made an excuse to her father for not rising. He searched but found not the images. Rachel has not only stolen but has also learned the art of her husband i. e. how to deceive, and she does not hesitate to deceive her father. She never sees him after this episode. If the word of God is true, that all hidden will be revealed at the Judgment, what will the awakening be for the thousands who, like Rachel, have lived and practiced deception and then died with their falsehoods and deceit unconfessed. We have no record that Rachel ever confessed her wrong

doing. Certainly the influence of Jacob's life was telling in his family. The disease was surely spreading. I wonder what disease is truly coursing its way, through your family tree.

unhindered, down Your life will cer

tainly tell on the lives of those about you, and they may be saved or unsaved by your life. Some years ago in a western town while preaching on the street, we closed by saying "perhaps there is someone now within the sound of our voice who, this night will make a decision that will forever settle their eternal destiny." We closed the meeting and invited all who desired, to attend a cottage prayer meeting that would be held as soon as we could arrive there. On our arrival several hundred had followed and the cottage, being unable to accommodate such a crowd, we conducted the meeting on the lawn. During that service several men knelt on the grass and gave up their

sins and gave themselves to Christ. As we closed the meeting a young man plucked our sleeve saying: "Do pray for me before you go." We knelt down with him then and there, and he wept his way to Jesus' feet and found pardon from his sins. In giving in his testimony he said: "I

was walking up the street tonight, when I heard a voice saying, 'Some one will make a decision tonight that will settle their eternal destiny.' Immediately I thought of my mother away back in my eastern home. I left her less than two weeks ago with her warm kiss upon my cheek and her words ringing in my ears, 'My boy, remember that no matter where you go, your old mother is praying for you.' I thought of her life, her kisses, and her prayers, and the words of the preacher took hold on me and I resolved then and there I would lead a different life. I have given myself to God and he has saved me.'" It came about through a mother's life and prayers. I wonder what about your life and what influence it has over the members of your home. How different is the incident we have just related to the following: We were in a western state holding revival services in a large city. One wet stormy night the attendance was small and no visible results were seen. The meeting had closed when a man came up to us with his face white as a sheet. "Is there anything in this salvation for me?" he asked. Of course we told him there was and after praying with him for

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some time he told us his condition. Said he,
"Gambling has nearly ruined me. I was taught
to play cards in my mother's fashionable parlors
and the fascination has grown on me until I have
gone as deep as a man can go in sin. The love
of gambling has led to my disgrace, and my
mother drove me from her home saying "never
to return until I came back an honest man, when
it was she herself that taught me to play cards."
After an awful struggle he found peace;
but oh,
what the influence of his mother had been. I
feel like pressing the question upon the parents
everywhere: What about your influence? The
disease was sure working in Jacob's family. I
wonder what disease may be working in yours.
Laban lied to Jacob concerning his marriage, as
he supposed to Rachel. He gave Leah instead.
Rachel would know of her father's deception,
and now she does not hesitate to deceive him.
What else would you expect from her with a
deceitful father and a deceitful husband. Quite
natural she would be influenced by their lives.
What about your life, and its influence on those
about you? Remember what you sow you will

reap.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TWO ROGUES AGREE.

What is my trespass?-Gen. 31:36.

Laban searched all through Jacob's stuff and did not find his images; when he had failed, then Jacob seeing that Laban knew nothing of the stripped rod business, grew indignant, he was wroth and chode with Laban; hear him.

"What is my trespass; what is my sin that thou has so hotly pursued after me?"

How a guilty man will bluster around when he thinks he is not found not. What a bold game bluff is! Hear him cry out, "What is my sin?" Ah, Jacob, you know what your sin is, and it is slowly overtaking you. For many years it has been on thy track and the settling day is drawing nearer. How we have heard men rage against some particular sin with such force, only in time to be found wallowing in it themselves. Hear him as he set forth his twenty years service to Laban. True. Laban had been deceitful with