Divine Love

   

 Today’s highlighted hymn is “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (Charles Wesley, 1747). There is more than one tune for this hymn, but my favorite is Rowland Hugh Pritchard’s Hyfrydol. This same tune is used for other great hymns, as well. Better known, however, by those not connected to the UK, is Beecher’s Zundel. (Evidently the earliest tune used for this hymn might have been one composed by Henry Purcell in 1691.)

   One of the beautiful things about great hymns is the poetry of their lyrics. It is difficult to truly ponder them while actually singing, so I sometimes like to speak them as praise or declarations of God’s character. (Lyrics below)

Enjoy!

Overall playlist: 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2DzbrW5IS3XolOORxDkajfiqqnT83OL&si=ehOefL5MknAClkMq

Hyfrydol: https://youtu.be/Ij7R_qgeBj0?si=FCBY42_lb4ejvsDo

Zundel (Beecher) https://youtu.be/J-6PMvgJHG0?si=A4iup7W49apkWNoe

20th Century: “We Fall Down” https://youtu.be/A9jhLNDfAKQ?si=Zl8Pow1RUv35nEPM

21st Century: His Name is Jesus (Jeremy Riddle)  

 https://youtu.be/MHhi1m-35r8?si=B3gLkiYdIFCOXC7j

******

1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
   Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
   Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
   All thy faithful mercies crown!
   Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
   Pure unbounded love Thou art;
   Visit us with Thy salvation,
   Enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
   Into every troubled breast!
   Let us all in Thee inherit;
   Let us find that second rest.
   Take away our bent to sinning;
   Alpha and Omega be;
   End of faith, as its beginning,
   Set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver,
   Let us all Thy life receive;
   Suddenly return, and never,
   Nevermore Thy temples leave.
   Thee we would be always blessing,
   Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
   Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
   Glory in Thy perfect love.
4. Finish, then, Thy new creation;
   Pure and spotless let us be;
   Let us see Thy great salvation
   Perfectly restored in Thee;
   Changed from glory into glory,
   Till in Heav’n we take our place,
   Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
   Lost in wonder, love, and praise.