Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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CHRISTIAN LOVE. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
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CHRISTIAN LOVE.
“And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
—Ephesians, iv. 32.
Lord! teach us more and more to feel,
All outward creeds and forms above,
That thy religion's stamp, and seal
Is pure, pervading, pardoning love.
All outward creeds and forms above,
That thy religion's stamp, and seal
Is pure, pervading, pardoning love.
Not earthly passion's ardent flame,
By bards in glowing numbers sung,
Whose brief, but thrilling transports claim
The aspirations of the young;—
By bards in glowing numbers sung,
Whose brief, but thrilling transports claim
The aspirations of the young;—
Nor e'en affection's natural tie,
Of gentler feelings intertwin'd,
Which knits in tender sympathy
Heart unto heart; and mind to mind:—
Of gentler feelings intertwin'd,
Which knits in tender sympathy
Heart unto heart; and mind to mind:—
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But that more deep devotedness,
Thy Spirit, Lord, alone can give;
Whose power none truly can express
But those who in it move, and live.
Thy Spirit, Lord, alone can give;
Whose power none truly can express
But those who in it move, and live.
This is the love which suffers long;
Prompt to forgive, and to forget
Each unprovok'd injurious wrong,
Rememb'ring its own holier debt.
Prompt to forgive, and to forget
Each unprovok'd injurious wrong,
Rememb'ring its own holier debt.
For they can never vengeance take,
Or, harshly, others' faults condemn,
Who feel that God, for Jesu's sake,
Hath lov'd, and freely pardon'd them.
Or, harshly, others' faults condemn,
Who feel that God, for Jesu's sake,
Hath lov'd, and freely pardon'd them.
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