Wrestling Jacob

Charles Wesley
(1708 - 1788)

This hymn is regarded by many as Charles's best, written some four years after his conversion; his brother John said this of it: "His [Charles] least praise was his talent for poetry, although Dr. [Isaac] Watts did not scruple to say that that single poem, 'Wrestling Jacob" , was worth all the verses he himself had written." James Montogomery regarded it as among the author's "highest achievements" . Charles often preached on Jacob, and his journals bear testimony to the grace of God as many sinners came to Jesus . Two weeks after Charles's death John broke down when he publically read the lines:

My company before is gone.
And I am left alone with Thee:

He burst into tears and leaving the pulpit buried his head in his hands. The congregation joined in and wept with John Wesley.

The hymn is an exposition of the story of Jacob and his experience at Jabbok as recorded in Gen. 32.

8.8.8.8.8.8

Come O thou Traveller Unknown
Whom still I hold, but cannot see
My company before is gone.
And I am left alone with Thee:

With Thee all night I mean to stay,

And wrestle till the break of day.

2.

I need not tell Thee who I am,

My misery or sin declare ;

Thyself hast called me by my name;
Look on Thy hands and read it there:
But who, I ask Thee , who art Thou?
Tell me Thy name and tell me now.

In vain Thou strugglest to get free;
I never will unloose my hold!
Art Thou the man that died for me?
The secret of Thy love unfold:
Wrestling I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

4.

Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal.
Thy new, unutterable name?
Tell me, I still beseech Thee tell;
To know it now resolved I am;
Wrestling I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

5.

'Tis all in vain to hold Thy tongue,
Or touch the hollow of my thigh;
Tough every sinew be unstrung,
Out of my arms Thou shalt not fly;
Wrestling I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

6.

What though my shrinking flesh complain,
And murmur to contend so long?
I rise superior to my pain,
When I am weak, then I am strong.
And when my all of strength shall fail,
I shall with the God-Man prevail.

7.

My strength is gone, my nature dies;
I sink beneath Thy weighty hand,
Faint to revive, and fall I rise;
I fall, and yet by faith I stand,
stand, and will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name and nature know.

8.

Yield to me now; for I am weak,
But confident in self despair
Speak to my heart in blessings speak,
Be conquered by my instant prayer;
Speak, or Thou never hence shall move.
And tell me if Thy name is Love.

9.

'Tis Love! 'Tis LoveThou diedst for me!
I hear the whisper in my heart;
The morning breaks, the shadows fle;
Pure universal Love Thou art;
To me, to all Thy mercies move;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

10.

My prayer hath power with God; the grace
Unspeakable I now receive.
Through faith I see Thee face to face,
I see Thee face to face and live!
In vain I have not wept and strove;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

11.

I know Thee Saviour, who Thou art,
Jesus, the feeble sinner's friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart,
But stay and love me to the end;

Thy mercies never shall remove.
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

12.

The Sun of Righteousness on me
Hath risen with healing in His wings:
Withered my nature's strength from Thee
My soul its life and succour brings;
My help is all laid up above.
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

13.

Contended now upon my thigh,
I halt till life's short journey's end;
All helplessness, all weakness, I
On Thee alone for strength depend,
Nor have I power from Thee to move;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

14.

Lame as I am I take the prey,
Hell, earth and sin with ease o'come;
I leap for joy, pursue my way,
And as a bounding hart fly home,
Through all eternity to prove,
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

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