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Monday, May 26, 2008

The name of Jesus

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear" is and has been a popular hymn of John Newton -- at least in the circles I travel in. I wouldn't been surprised if it is second only to his more widely known "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound." We usually sing it with the tune "Ortonville" by Thomas Hastings.

Stephen Conte has been going through the
Olney Hymn book of Newton and Cowper, posting the hymns on the pb-mb forum. It is good and interesting to put these in context of their original settings. Newton associated this hymn with Song of Solomon 1:3 -- Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you -- and titled it "The name of Jesus". [Olney Hymns, Book 1, No. 57, common meter]

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