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You bring the Hymnal, I'll bring the History
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During a time that history calls the “Dark Ages” the church was in confusion. Christianity had become degenerate and corrupt. Moral standards of the people were a disgrace and shame. But God always has for himself an remnant of true believers. One of those was Bernard of Clairvaux of the Cistercian monastic order. He was still guilty of many of the errors of his day, having played a prominent role in the Second Crusade. But even Luther said of him, “Bernard is superior to all the doctors in his sermons even to Augustine himself, because he preaches Christ most excellently.” And it was this man that God used to pen the words to some devotional poems that have become some of our finest hymns, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”; “Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hears”; and today’s hymn “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”

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Jesus! the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast:
But sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame, nor can the mem’ry find
A sweeter sound than Jesus name, the Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek,
To those who ask, 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.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now, and through eternity.

O Jesus, King most wonderful Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable in whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart, then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart, then kindles love divine.

O Jesus, light of all below, thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know, and all we can desire.

Jesus, may all confess Thy name, Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame to seek Thee more and more.

Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless, Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express the image of Thine own.

O Jesus, Thou the beauty art of angel worlds above;
Thy Name is music to the heart, inflaming it with love.

O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries; to Thee our prayers ascend.

Abide with us, and let Thy light shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night; and joy to all impart.

Jesus, our love and joy to Thee, the virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be, while endless ages run.

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