Friendship and Love

1 The reason we love friendship
We will deny to no man,
How shall, how shall, how shall we
Who are thus formed for happiness,
E'er slight a loving christian;
Since Jesus, Jesus hath died on the tree,
To rescue sinful men
From violence and treason,
That we might love each other,
And seek our God's salvation:
'Twas love that moved the mighty God
For to redeem the nations,
That happy, happy we might be.

2 On the feast of ancient times,
Jesus stood thus crying
Whoso thirsteth let every one
Come unto me and freely drink,
And thus he saved from dying,
For surely, surely, there's nothing else can
Quench the immortal flame
That in your heart is glowing.
Then come and taste the streams of grace
Which are so freely flowing,
Saying, drink my love, my only dove,
For you they now are flowing,
Then happy, happy you shall be.

3 Let us who have begun to taste
The sweets of his salvation,
Follow, follow, let us follow on,
Believing we shall overcome,
Resisting all temptation,
Since Jesus, Jesus, since Jesus the Son,
With out-stretched arms expanded,
And voice that's so inviting,
To purling streams or purest joys
Is thus our souls exciting:
Let us impart to him our heart,
By faith and love uniting;
Then happy, happy we shall be.

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians, 1803