Those who have delayed a preparation for the day of God, cannot obtain it in the time of trouble, or at any future period. The righteous will not cease their earnest, agonizing cries for deliverance. They cannot bring to mind any particular sins; but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance. Certain destruction threatens them, and, like Jacob, they will not suffer their faith to grow weak because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering the pangs of hunger, they will not cease their intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the angel; and the language of their soul is, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” The saints at length prevail, like Jacob, and are gloriously delivered by the voice of God. {1SP 123.3}

De, som har efterladt at berede sig for herrens dag kunne ikke berede sig i pagernes tid, ej heller siden efter. De retfærdiges (124) vedblive med deres alvorlige, ængstelige Råb om frelse. De kunne ikke erindre nogen særdeles synd, man de kunne ikke se noget godt i deres hele liv. Deres synder er gået forud til dom, og de har fået misgerningens forladelse. Deres synder er bortførte til forglemmelsens land, og de kunne ikke mere ihukommes. Uundgåelig ødelæggelse truer de, men ligesom Jakob tillod de ikke sin tro at blive svag fordi deres bønner ikke øjeblikkelig blev bønhørte. Selvom de plages af uger ville de dog ikke høre op med deres bønner. De holder fast ved Guds styrke, ligesom Jakob holdt fast ved Englen, og dette er deres hjertes sprog: "Jeg vil ikke lade dig gå, uden du får velsignet mig." De hellige få overhånd til sidst, ligesom Jakob; og fik en herlig forløsning når Guds stemme lyder.