To me, to all, Thy bowels move–

Above:  Jacob Struggling with the Angel, from the Gutenberg Bible 

Image in the Public Domain

Text (published in 1742) by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Hymn Source = Robert Guy McCutchan, Our Hymnody:  A Manual of The Methodist Hymnal (1937), pages 336-337

Here we have what is, according to reputation, the finest text (original title = “Wrestling Jacob”) by Charles Wesley, one of the greatest English hymn writers.  It is certainly a fine work of literature and theology, one renowned during his lifetime and afterward.  The United Methodist Hymnal (1989) prints all 14 stanzas, with only slight alteration.  The most obvious change, dating to 1893, is in the stanza that begins with “‘Tis Love! ’tis Love!  Thou diedst for me.”  In that verse, in the original version, one reads,

Thy nature and Thy name is love.

I can confirm, based on my library, that the divine bowels moved in A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship (Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1847;  Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes for the Use of Christian Congregations (Henry Ward Beecher, 1855);  A Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship (Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1874); and The Presbyterian Hymnal (Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., 1874).

Since 1893, however, as Brian Wren informs me, “Thy mercies” have moved instead.

This is a case study in changing idioms–in this case, the bowels as the seat of emotion.  One finds such language in the original texts of the Bible.  Modern Biblical translators modernize the idiom, fortunately.  We retain vestiges of the idiom in modern English usage; we speak and write of “gut feelings,” for example.  As grateful as I am for the updating of the archaic idiom for the sake of clarity, I also care about what the author wrote.  I, therefore, having access to what Wesley wrote, share it here.

Brian Wren, in his excellent and informative Praying Twice:  The Music and Words of Congregational Song (2000), cites the alteration of this hymn in Chapter Nine,

“To Me, to All, Thy Bowels Move”:  Why Do They Keep Changing the Good Old Hymns?

It is a memorable title for a thorough and critical (in the highest sense of that word) chapter.  I advise reading it.

As for this hymn and the reasons for its long-lasting reputation, I defer to the companion volume to The Methodist Hymnal (1966) for analysis:

The construction of the poem is as clear as its language is crisp, compact, and powerful.  The first 8 sts. set forth with mounting pathos the anguished cry of man–not “Who am I” but “Who art Thou?”  The last 6 with glad assurance provide the full answer, each ending with the line Thy nature and thy name is love.

–Emory Stevens Bucke, ed., Companion to the Hymnal (1970), page 150

Yet since most congregations that sing the hymn sing only a few stanzas, they will not notice the organization of the full poem.

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Come, O thou Traveler 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.

+++++

I need not tell Thee who I am,

My misery or sin declare,

Thyself has 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.

+++++

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 not let Thee go

Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

+++++

‘Tis all in vain to hold Thy tongue,

Or touch the hollow of my thigh;

Though 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.

+++++

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.

+++++

My strength is gone, my nature dies,

I sink beneath Thy weighty hand,

Faint to revive, and fall to rise;

I fall, and yet by faith I stand–

I stand, and will not let Thee go

Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

+++++

Yield to me now, for I am weak,

But confident, in self-despair;

Speak to my heart, in blessings speak,

Be conquer’d by my instant prayer:

Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,

And tell me if Thy name is Love?

+++++

‘Tis Love! ’tis Love!  Thou diedst for me;

I hear Thy whisper in my heart;

The morning breaks, the shadows flee,

Pure Universal Love Thou art;

To me, to all Thy bowels move–

Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

+++++

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.

+++++

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.

+++++

The Sun of Righteousness on me

Hath rose with healing in His wings;

Wither’d my nature’s strength, from Thee

My soul its life and succor brings;

My help and Thy name is Love.

+++++

Contented now upon my thigh

I halt, till life’s short journey 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.

+++++

Lame as I am, I take the prey,

Hell, earth, and sin with ease o’ercome;

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.

Above:  The Ascension of Christ

Image Created Circa 1873

Image Source = Library of Congress

(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003670200/)

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-pga-01968

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1940, of The Episcopal Church

Words (1739), by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Hail the day that sees him rise.  Alleluia!

Glorious to his native skies; Alleluia!

Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!

Enters now the highest heaven!  Alleluia!

2.  There the glorious triumph waits; Alleluia!

Lift your heads, eternal gates!  Alleluia!

Wide unfold the radiant scene; Alleluia!

Take the King of glory in!  Alleluia!

3.  See!  he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!

See! he shows the prints of love:  Alleluia!

Hark! his gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!

Blessings on his Church below.  Alleluia!

4.  Lord beyond our mortal sight, Alleluia!

Raise our hearts to reach thy height, Alleluia!

There thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!

Find our heaven of heavens in thee.  Alleluia!

Above:  Second Coming Icon

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1965), of The Methodist Church

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

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1.  Lo, he comes with clouds descending,

Once for favored sinners slain;

Thousand, thousand saints attending

Swell the triumph of his train;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

God appears on earth to reign,

God appears on earth to reign.

2.  Every eye shall now behold him,

Robed in dreadful majesty;

Those who set at naught and sold him,

Pierced and nailed him to the tree,

Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,

Shall the true Messiah see,

Shall the true Messiah see.

3.  The dear tokens of his passion

Still his dazzling body bears;

Cause of endless exultation

To his ransomed worshipers;

With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,

Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Gaze we on those glorious scars!

4.  Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee,

High on thy eternal throne;

Savior, take the power and glory,

Claim the kingdom for thine own;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Everlasting God, come down!

Everlasting God, come down!

Above:  Charles Wesley

Image in the Public Domain

Charles Wesley (1707-1788), an Anglican priest, was one of the greatest and most prolific of English hymn writers.

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Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/christ-whose-glory-fills-the-skies-by-charles-wesley/

O Thou, Who Camest From Above:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/o-thou-who-camest-from-above/

Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/let-saints-on-earth-in-concert-sing/

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/come-thou-long-expected-jesus/

Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honor:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/glory-love-and-praise-and-honor/

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/love-divine-all-loves-excelling/

Come Away to the Skies, My Beloved:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/come-away-to-the-skies-my-beloved/

Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/lo-he-comes-with-clouds-descending/

Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/come-o-thou-traveler-unknown/

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Resurrection Icon

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Come away to the skies,

my beloved, arise

and rejoice in the day thou wast born;

on this festival day,

come exulting away,

and with singing to Zion return.

2.  Now with singing and praise,

let us spend all the days,

by our heavenly Father bestowed,

while his grace we receive

from his bounty, and live

to the honor and glory of God.

3.  For the glory we were

first created to share,

both the nature

and kingdom divine!

Now created again

that our lives may remain,

throughout time and eternity thine.

4.  We with thanks do approve

the design of that love

which hath joined us to Jesus’ Name;

so united in heart,

let us nevermore part,

till we meet at the feast of the Lamb.

5.  Hallelujah we sing,

to our Father and King,

and his rapturous praises, repeat:

to the Lamb that was slain,

hallulujah again,

sing, all heaven, and fall at his feet.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/great-vigil-of-easter-year-a/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/first-day-of-easter-easter-sunday-year-a-principal-service/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/first-day-of-easter-easter-sunday-years-a-b-and-c-evening-service/

Christ as the Good Shepherd, Ravenna, Italy

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter every trembling heart.

2.  Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

nevermore thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

3.  Finish then thy new creation;

pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation

perfectly restored in thee:

changed from glory into glory,

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Episcopal Church of the Common Ground, Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 2010

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/ChurchOfTheCommonGroundMay162010#5472002572382484690)

The mission of the Church of the Common Ground is to work with homeless people.

http://www.commongroundatl.com/

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

The Hymnal 1982 Companion states that the Standing Commission of Church Music changed one word:  “meet” to “right” at the end of the first verse.  I have restored the text to its original form.

“It is right and meet so to do.”–The Book of Common Prayer (1979)–Holy Eucharist, Rite One, page 333

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1.  Glory, love, and praise, and honor for our food

now bestowed render we the Donor.

Bounteous God, we now confess thee:

God, who thus blessest us, right it is to bless thee.

2.  Thankful for our every blessing,

let us sing Christ the Spring, never, never ceasing.

Source of all our gifts and graces,

Christ we own; Christ alone calls for all our praises.

3.  He dispels our sin and sadness,

life imparts, cheers our hearts, fills with food and gladness.

Who himself for all hath given,

as he feeds, us he leads to a feast in heaven.

Adoration of the Shepherds, by Georges de La Tour, circa 1644

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

2.  Israel’s strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

3.  Born thy people to deliver,

born a child, and yet a king,

born to reign in us for ever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

4.  By thine own eternal Spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all-sufficient mercy

raise us to thy glorious throne.

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/fifteenth-day-of-advent-third-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/eighth-day-of-advent-second-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/first-day-of-advent-first-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/first-day-of-advent-first-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/eighth-day-of-advent-second-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/fifteenth-day-of-advent-third-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

The Communion of Saints

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1916 (1918), of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, now called simply The Episcopal Church

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of the Church of England

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1.  Let saints on earth in concert sing

With those whose work is done;

For all the servants of our King

In heaven and earth are one.

2.  One family we dwell in him,

One Church, above, beneath,

Though now divided by the stream,

The narrow stream of death.

3.  One army of the living God

To his command we bow;

Part of the host have crossed the flood,

And part are crossing now.

4.  E’en now by faith we join our hands

With those that went before,

And grant the ever-living bands

On the eternal shore.

5.  Jesus, be thou our constant Guide;

Then, when the word is given,

Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,

And bring us safe to heaven.

Christ Pantocrator

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1905), of the Methodist Episcopal Church (1784-1939) and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (1845-1939)

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of the Church of England

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1.  O Thou, who camest from above,

The pure celestial fire to impart,

Kindle a flame of sacred love

On the mean altar of my heart!

2.  There let it for thy glory burn,

With inextinguishable blaze,

And trembling to its source return,

In humble love and fervent praise.

3.  Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire,

To work, and speak, and think, for thee;

Still let me guard the holy fire,

And still stir up thy gift in me;

4.  Ready for all thy perfect will,

My acts of faith and love repeat,

Till death thy endless mercies seal,

And make the sacrifice complete.

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/fifteenth-day-of-advent-third-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/eighth-day-of-advent-second-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/first-day-of-advent-first-sunday-of-advent-year-b/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/first-day-of-advent-first-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/eighth-day-of-advent-second-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/fifteenth-day-of-advent-third-sunday-of-advent-year-a/

http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-a/