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You bring the Hymnal, I'll bring the History
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“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3) The preacher after reading the verse explained to the congregation that in the Hebrew the word peace is repeated (peace, peace) because of its great intensity. That afternoon in 1875, Edward Bickersteth, went to visit a relative who was gravely ill. But the words of this verse would not leave his mind and heart and what came forth were the words to the hymn “Peace, Perfect Peace.”

Reading the first line of each stanza, one finds the problems that take away our peace. But the second line of each stanza gives us the answer of how to gain that peace again, Jesus.

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Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus, call us to heav’n’s perfect peace.
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