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You bring the Hymnal, I'll bring the History
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Timothy Dwight was a gifted child. He was reading the Bible at age 4. At 6, he was reading Latin. At 16, he graduated from Yale and was shortly afterward tutoring there. He had a great love for the Lord and for the work of God. One of his greatest works was when at the age of 43 he became the president of Yale University. But there was a different atmosphere among the student body since the time he was a student there. He discovered that in this Christian University only about four or five students were truly Christians. He preached and encouraged a spiritual awakening during the chapel messages. His preaching led to a spiritual revival that spread out from Yale and into the other New England States. It was during this time that he was asked to revise some of Isaac Watts’ hymn, to purge out the British flavor. He wrote his own hymn, “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord” (1801). It is the oldest American hymn that is still being sung in churches today.

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I love Thy kingdom, Lord! The house of Thine abode-
The Church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood.

I love Thy Church, O God! Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apples of Thine eye and graven on Thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend-
To her my cares and toils be giv’n till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy I prize her heav’nly ways-
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.

Sure as Thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be giv’n
The brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heav’n.

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