65
"WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US" (I. John iv. 19.)"FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE."(Matthew x. 8.)
We love Him, the great Lover of our souls,
With true, deep love,—what can we do but love*
For He hath so loved us that He hath given
His best for us, His only, much-loved Son,
And with Him all good things. So hath He stilled
Our craving restlessness and given us peace;
So hath He drawn us closely to Himself,
Enfolded us with mercy, circled us
With gifts outmeasuring our large desires;
And from our bitter, but deservéd woes
He doth evolve serenest happiness.
And above all that yet our hearts have proved
He hath implanted wondrous hopes, which stretch
Beyond earth's narrow Limits into years
That have no ending, space that knows no bound,
And bliss yet unconceived.
We love indeed,
And thus to love is joy unspeakable.
But oh! how feeble is our best response
To God's inspiring love! How cold our hearts!
How languid is our highest, heartiest praise!
And oh, how selfishly we take our bliss!
Thousands there are who yearn for such a love,
Yet know it not, and it is meant for them;
Others there are who blindly grope for light,
Who pine for comfort, yet know not its source,
Who live in poverty, and slight this wealth,
Who toil in vain, and spend their strength for nought,
Who nothing understand of the sweet spell
With which this love irradiates all life.
With true, deep love,—what can we do but love*
For He hath so loved us that He hath given
His best for us, His only, much-loved Son,
And with Him all good things. So hath He stilled
Our craving restlessness and given us peace;
So hath He drawn us closely to Himself,
Enfolded us with mercy, circled us
With gifts outmeasuring our large desires;
And from our bitter, but deservéd woes
He doth evolve serenest happiness.
And above all that yet our hearts have proved
He hath implanted wondrous hopes, which stretch
Beyond earth's narrow Limits into years
That have no ending, space that knows no bound,
And bliss yet unconceived.
We love indeed,
And thus to love is joy unspeakable.
But oh! how feeble is our best response
To God's inspiring love! How cold our hearts!
How languid is our highest, heartiest praise!
And oh, how selfishly we take our bliss!
Thousands there are who yearn for such a love,
Yet know it not, and it is meant for them;
Others there are who blindly grope for light,
Who pine for comfort, yet know not its source,
Who live in poverty, and slight this wealth,
Who toil in vain, and spend their strength for nought,
Who nothing understand of the sweet spell
With which this love irradiates all life.
