Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
A hymn about the temple of the Christian heart, where the Wisdom of God makes his humble dwelling.
A hymn about the temple of the Christian heart, where the Wisdom of God makes his humble dwelling.
Charles Wesley’s Love Divine is a staple of weddings but it is, of course, much more than a paean to married love. It picks up on St Paul’s teaching that God dwells in each Christian as he dwelt in the Temple at Jerusalem, and (if he is allowed to) gradually transforms the believer into his own glory — what the Church Fathers used to call theosis, making man divine.
To — “Jesus, show us Thy salvation.”
Love Divine; all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesu, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art,
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
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 power of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be,
End of faith as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more 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.
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 heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!