Charles was once preaching in Cornwall when a blasphemer stood up and began to contradict him. Wesley then exclaimed “Who is he that pleads for the devil?” The man replied ” I am he that pleads for the devil” Wesley then began to expose the devil for what he is. The blasphemer was then driven out of the meeting by the preaching. This incident suggested the theme of this hymn. The first verse of the hymn with which we are all familiar is at verse 9
1.
Jesu, accept the grateful song,
My wisdom and my might,
’Tis Thou hast loos’d the stammering tongue,
And taught my hands to fight.
2.
Thou, Jesus, Thou my mouth hast been;
The weapons of Thy war,
Mighty thro’ Thee, I pull down sin,
And all Thy truth declare.
3
Not without Thee, my Lord,
I am Come up unto this place,
Thy Spirit bad me preach Thy name,
And trumpet forth Thy praise.
4
Thy Spirit gave me utterance now,
My soul with strength endued,
Hardened to adamant my brow,
And arm’d my heart with God.
5
Thy powerful hand in all I see,
Thy wondrous workings own,
Glory, and strength, and praise to Thee
Ascribe, and Thee alone.
6
Gladly I own the promise true
To all whom Thou dost send,
“Behold, I always am with you,
Your Saviour to the end!”
7
Amen, amen, my God and Lord,
If Thou art with me still,
I still shall speak the gospel-word,
My ministry fulfil.
8
Thee I shall constantly proclaim,
Though earth and hell oppose,
Bold to confess Thy glorious name
Before a world of foes.
9
Jesus the name, high over all
In hell, or earth, or sky,
Angels and men before it fall,
And devils fear, and fly.
10
Jesus the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners given,
It scatters all their guilty fear,
And turns their hell to heaven.
11
Balm into wounded spirits it pours,
And heals the sin-sick mind;
It hearing to the deaf restores,
And eye-sight to the blind.
12
Jesus the prisoner’s fetters breaks,
And bruises Satan’s head,
Power into strengthless souls it speaks,
And life into the dead.
13
O that the world might taste, and see
The riches of His grace!
The arms of love which compass me,
Would all mankind embrace.
14
O that my Jesu’s heavenly charms
Might every bosom move!
Fly sinners, fly into those arms
Of everlasting love.
15
The lover of your souls is near,
Him I to you commend,
Joyful the Bridegroom’s voice to hear,
Who calls a worm His friend.
16
He hath the bride, and He alone,
Almighty to redeem,
I only make His mercies known,
I send you all to Him.
17
Sinners, behold the Lamb of God,
On Him your spirits stay;
He bears the universal load,
He takes your sins away.
18.
His only righteousness I show,
His saving grace proclaim;
’Tis all my business here below
To cry, Behold the Lamb!
19
For this a suffering life I live,
And reckon all things loss;
For Him my strength, my all I give,
And glory in his cross.
20
I spend myself, that you may know
The Lord our righteousness,
That Christ in you may live, and grow,
I joyfully decrease.
21
Gladly I hasten to decay,
My life I freely spend,
And languish for the welcome day,
When all my toil shall end.
22
Happy, if with my latest breath
I might but gasp His name,
Preach Him to all, and cry in death
Behold, behold the Lamb!
*******