Scripture Verse

God is love. 1 John 4:16

Introduction

Words: James D. Burns, The Vi­sion of Pro­phe­cy: and Oth­er Po­ems, se­cond edi­tion (Ed­in­burgh, Scot­land: Ed­mon­ston & Doug­las, 1858).

Music: Clap­ham, ano­ny­mous, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Pub­lish­ing House, 1889) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
James D. Burns
1823–1864

Lyrics

Thou Lord, art love, and everywhere
Thy name is brightly shown;
Beneath, on earth—Thy footstool fair;
Above, in heaven—Thy throne.

Thy Word is love; in lines of gold
There mercy prints its trace:
In nature we Thy steps behold,
The Gospel shows Thy face.

Thy ways are love; though they transcend
Our feeble range of sight,
They wind through darkness to their end
In everlasting light.

Thy thoughts are love, and Jesus is
The loving voice they find;
His love lights up the vast abyss
Of the eternal mind.

Thy chastisements are love; more deep
They stamp the seal divine;
And by a sweet compulsion keep
Our spirits nearer Thine.

Thy heaven is the abode of love!
O blessèd Lord, that we
May there, when time’s dim shades remove,
Be gathered home to Thee!

Then with Thy resting saints to fall
Adoring round Thy throne,
When all shall love Thee, Lord, and all
Shall in Thy love be one.