Scripture Verse

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34

Introduction

portrait
Samuel Longfellow (1819–1892)

Words: Samuel Long­fel­low, A Book of Hymns for Pub­lic and Pri­vate De­vo­tion, 10th edi­tion (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Tick­nor & Fields, 1848), num­ber 564.

Music: Alex­an­dria (Ar­nold) Will­iam Ar­nold, 1791 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Ar­nold (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Beneath the sha­dow of the cross
As earth­ly hopes re­move,
His new com­mand­ment Je­sus gives,
His bless­èd word of love.

O bond of un­ion, strong and deep!
O bond of pe­rfect peace!
Not ev­en the lift­ed cross can harm,
If we but hold to this.

Then, Je­sus, be Thy Spi­rit ours!
And swift our feet shall move
To deeds of pure self-sac­ri­fice,
And the sweet tasks of love.