JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL.

Now, by that touch, Mysterious man! I know
Thy nature's more than human!-Let thee go!
Not till thou bless me. If, through all the night,
My daring, struggling limbs increas'd in might;
If thou thy strength attempered e'en to mine,
If thus resisting I o'ermastered thine;
Then wilt thou too, my daring speech approve,
For all thy wrestling was but tender love!
My name is JACOB-thou hast made me bold,
Thine arms that have repell'd me, must enfold !
Thou shalt, Oh Wondrous Stranger! e'er we part-
Stamp thine eternal blessing on my heart!

Thy name no more is JACOB! Thou hast seen
By faith's keen vision, what thy trials mean !
Thy name is ISRAEL! Knighted Prince of God!
For thou with him the wrestling ring hast trod!
Nay-cease! Ask not for my peculiar name,
Enough to know 'twill put thy foes to shame:
Take this white stone-'tis deeply graven there,
With thine, a token of prevailing prayer!
Forth to thy work-thy darkest dangers brave,
My name goes with thee, and 'tis strong to save!

AMERICAN EDITOR.

JACOB

WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL.

:

SERMON I.

GENESIS XXXII. 24.

And Jacob was left alone: and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

THE verse we have just read, forms a part of one of the most wonderful narratives contained in the Holy Scriptures; and upon which we intend to meditate on this and some future occasions.

Strengthened and refreshed by the promise, 'I will do thee good, the Patriarch Jacob, at the express command of his God, had removed from Haran, where for a long period he had served his uncle Laban, in order to return to his native land. This displeased Laban so much, that he went in pursuit of his son-inlaw, and overtook him on Mount Gilead. His anger was inflamed against him to such a degree, that he would certainly have done the Patriarch a serious injury: since he boasted that, with the help of God, he had power enough for that purpose, if God had not forbidden this Syrian, in a dream, to take heed not to speak otherwise than in a friendly manner to him: although Rachel was, nevertheless, in peril of her life. At length every thing was amicably settled, and they parted in a peaceful and friendly manner. Laban turned back; and whilst Jacob was proceeding on his journey, he was met, to his great comfort, by the angels of God. Thus pleasingly was he extricated from this trying situation.

Scarcely, however, had he been rescued from this danger, then he fell into another of a much more serious nature. The fury of his brother Esau, and his threat, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand, then will I slay my brother Jacob,' had compelled the latter to seek his safety in flight. When he returned into Esau's neighborhood, his first concern was to gain his favor. He attempted to accomplish this by sending messengers to him; who, in the humblest terms, were to endeavor to secure his good will. But they soon returned with the intelligence, that his brother Esau was coming to meet him, with four hundred men. 'Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed;' and that with reason: for what other intentions could Esau have than such as were hostile ? And what had Jacob to oppose to such a host? Nothing; not even flight. What a distressing and helpless situation! O God, into what painful circumstances dost thou sometimes suffer thy favorites to fall; and yet it is only for the attainment of the most blessed ends.

Jacob's anxiety, however, is not so great as to deprive him of all reflection; although his confidence in God is not lively enough to render him as courageous as a young