Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/289

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 277

discovery, when he prevails, and exclaims, &quot; I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art. &quot; Thomas Jackson says, It applies with admirable ingenuity and tact the patriarch s mysterious conflict, and the happy result to which it led, to the process of an awakened sinner s salvation.

Charles Wesley says in his Journal for Sunday, May 24, 1741, I preached on Jacob wrestling for the blessing. Many then, I believe, took hold on His strength, and will not let Him go, till He bless them, and tell them His name. This was in Bristol. On July 16 he took the same subject in Cardiff. On October 6, 1743, that was his theme at the Foundery. I promised the Society an extraordinary blessing, if they would seek the Lord early the next morning. On June 12, 1744, he has a glorious time in London. Many wept with the angel, and made supplication, and were en couraged to wait upon the Lord continually. We find him preaching on the same subject at Dublin, February 7 and March 7, 1748; at Bristol, May 20, 1748, and January 29, 1749.

Ver. i has supplied a voice for many a lonely heart. A fortnight after his brother s death, John Wesley broke down at Bolton when he tried to give out the lines My company before is gone,

And I am left alone with Thee.

He burst into a flood of tears, sat down in the pulpit, and buried his face in his hands. The singing ceased, and all the congregation wept together. In a little while Wesley recovered himself, and was able to proceed with that ever-memorable service.

Dean Stanley quoted the same verse at the unveiling of the Wesley tablet in Westminster Abbey in 1876. The pathos of that touching reference to Lady Augusta Stanley, in all the first bitterness of the dean s great bereavement, was indescribable.

Hymn 450. Yield to mo now ; for I aru weak. CHARLES WESLEY (i).

The second part of Hymn 449. Hymns and Sacred Poems t 1742 ; Works, ii. 175. In vcr. 5, the punctuation of 1875, which suggested that Jacob was disabled by the sun, has been altered The Sun of righteousness on me

Hath rose with healing in His wings, Withered my nature s strength.

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