There are said to be no fewer than thirty-six texts which can be traced in its thirty lines. The veteran Wesleyan minister, the Rev. Charles Garrett, of Liverpool, places this hymn in the forefront as one which has been his companion and comfort all through his life's journey. 93-JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE. THERE are fifty stanzas of this hymn of St. Bernard, of which only four are given here. The fifth, in Latin, is not Bernard's. It has been in constant use for seven hundred years. No other poem, says Julian, in any language has furnished so many hymns of sterling worth and well-deserved popularity to English and American hymnody. ESUS, the very thought of Thee JE With sweetness fills my breast; Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, A sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O hope of every contrite heart! To those who fall, how kind Thou art! But what to those who find? Ah! this ESU dulcis memoria, Sed super mel et omnia Ejus dulcis præsentia. Nil canitur suavius, Amen. TUNE "ST. Agnes." 94-HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS. THIS is one of the most popular of Newton's hymns. The word Guardian in the fourth verse was originally written Husband, in allusion to the Church, "the Lamb's wife." H OW sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, It makes the wounded spirit whole, Dear name! the rock on which I build; My never-failing treasury, filled Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend; Weak is the effort of my heart, 95 — LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING. THIS is one of the hymns of Charles Wesley, which enabled Methodism to sing itself into the heart of the human race. L OVE 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; Come, almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy grace receive; Never more Thy temples leave. Finish, then, Thy new creation; Till in heaven we take our place, TUNE" BITHYNIA." It is one of the most popular and helpful hymns, which, originating in the Methodist hymnody, have found an honoured place in the hymn-books of almost every other denomination. It was a prime favourite of Henry Ward Beecher. No one who ever heard the great congregation of Plymouth Church sing "Love Divine" is likely to forget the soul-stirring effect. 96-OH FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING. THE first man whom this hymn helped was Charles Wesley himself. On May 21, 1738, Charles Wesley experienced that practical spiritual change which among Methodists is known as Conversion. Twelve months afterwards, in memory of a year in which he had found peace and joy in believing, he wrote the exultant outburst of grateful praise which, being given the first place in the Methodist hymn-book, may be said to strike the key-note of the whole of Methodism, that multitu dinous chorus, whose voices, like the sound of many waters, encompass the world. The germ idea of the hymn was given to the author by Peter Bohler, the Moravian, who once declared: Had I a thousand tongues I would praise Christ with them all." Originally, the exuberance of Wesley's gratitude overflowed into sixty-eight verses, only the best of which are used for singing. The third verse is an equal favourite of condemned malefactors and dying saints. H for a thousand tongues to sing The glories of my God and King, Jesus the name that charms our fears, He breaks the power of cancelled sin, His blood can make the foulest clean; He speaks; and, listening to His voice, The mournful broken hearts rejoice; Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim And spread through all the earth abroad The honours of Thy name. TUNE" BYZANTIUM." |