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

JES

With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,

A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
O Saviour of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!

To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus - what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

JE

ESU dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordi gaudia :

Sed super mel et omnia

Ejus dulcis præsentia.

Nil canitur suavius,
Nil auditur jucundius,
Nil cogitatur dulcius,
Quam Jesus Dei Filius.
Jesu spes pœnitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus!
Quam bonus te quærentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus!
Nec lingua valet dicere,
Nec littera exprimere ;
Expertus potest credere,
Quid sit Jesum diligere.
Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus præmium:
Sit nostra in te gloria,

Per cuncta semper sæcula.

TUNE

Amen.

"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."

HOW sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer's ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast:
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name! the rock on which I build;
My shield and hiding-place,
My never-failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace.

Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend;
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my life, my way, mine end,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,

And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought:

Till then, I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

TUNEST. PETER."

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;
Enter every longing heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

Let us all Thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,

Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing;
Glory in Thy precious love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure, unspotted may we be:
Let us see our whole salvation
Perfectly secured by 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.

TUNE 66 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
My dear Redeemer's praise,

The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
And sets the prisoner free:

His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He speaks; and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive;

The mournful broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
And leap, ye lame, for joy!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim

And spread through all the earth abroad

The honours of Thy name.

TUNE

"BYZANTIUM."