Methodist Hymn and Tune Book ‎#162

162. O Love Divine! whose constant beam

1 O Love Divine! whose constant beam
Shines on the eyes that will not see,
And waits to bless us, while we dream,
Thou leavest us because we turn from Thee!

2 All souls that struggle and aspire,
All hearts of prayer by Thee are lit;
And, dim or clear, Thy tongues of fire
On dusky tribes and twilight centuries sit.

3 Nor bounds, nor clime, nor creed Thou know'st,
Wide as our need Thy favours fall;
The white wings of the Holy Ghost
Stoop, seen or unseen, o'er the heads of all.

4 O Beauty, old yet ever new!
Eternal Voice, and Inward Word,
The Logos of the Greek and Jew,
The old-sphere music which the Samian heard!

5 Truth which the sage and prophet saw,
Long sought without, but found within,
The Law of Love, beyond all law,
The Life o'erflooding mortal death and sin!

6 Shine on us with the light which glowed
Upon the trance-bound shepherd's way;
Who saw the darkness overflowed,
And drowned by tides of everlasting day.

7 Shine, Light of God! make broad Thy scope
To all who sin and suffer; more
And better than we dare to hope,
With heaven's compassion make our longings poor!

Text Information

• First Line: O Love Divine! whose constant beam
• Author: J. G. Whittier, 1807-1892
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1917
• Topic: The Godhead: The Holy Spirit; God: Love of; Love: Divine

Tune Information

• Name: STRANGWAYS
• Composer: Dr. Herbert Sanders, 1879-
• Meter: 8.8.8.10
• Key: E♭ Major