I haven’t ever properly blogged this one so here goes. I have looked at it referencing several settings here.
This is Charles Wesley‘s text and there are six of his verses here in the New Living Parish Hymn Book. In this hymnal they acknowledge that it may be sing to HYFRYDOL but here use the setting LOVE DIVINE by John Stainer. So a Methodist text with an Anglican tune in a Catholic hymn book – lovely. It is a grand hymn of praise.
My backing is more fake BIAB church organ.
The text here remains fully archiac.
1 Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All your faithful mercies crown.2 Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.3 Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.4 Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.5 Finish then thy new creation,
Pure and sinless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee.6 Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
There are other verses floating around:
Breathe on us thy loving Spirit;
Every troubled heart be blessed:
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find thy promised rest.Take away the love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
