Scripture Verse

In Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28

Introduction

portrait
Samuel Longfellow
(1819–1892)

Words: Sam­uel Long­fel­low, 1864.

Music: Ger­ma­ny, Sac­red Me­lo­dies, by Will­iam Gar­di­ner, 1815 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William Gardiner (1770–1853)

Lyrics

O God, in whom we live and move,
Thy love is law, Thy law is love;
Thy pre­sent Spir­it waits to fill
The soul which comes to do Thy will.

Unto thy child­ren’s spir­its teach
Thy love, be­yond the pow­ers of speech;
And make them know, with joy­ful awe,
The en­circ­ling pre­sence of Thy law.

Its pa­tient work­ing doth ful­fill
Man’s hope, and God’s all-per­fect will,
Nor suf­fers one true word or thought,
Or deed of love, to come to naught.

Such faith, O God, our spir­its fill,
That we may work in pa­tience still.
Who works for jus­tice, works for Thee;
Who works in love, Thy child shall be.