Divine Love

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”—Deut. vi. 5.

I KNOW not what this world would be

(Not even by analogy)

If love were banished for a time

To other realm, or other clime;

But no, it is not bound by space,

But with illimitable grace

Glides through all worlds, and lives in all,

All hearts and souls it does enthral;

Some, where the spirit seldom dwelt

’Tis not quite banished or forgot;

It were indeed a dreary spot

Without one single ray of love,

That heavenly blessing from above,

For what were virtue, goodness, truth,

Without the light of love? in sooth

They would not be—they could not last

Without this heavenly antepast;

This foretaste of celestial love

Vicegerent here, but crowned above.

Oh! love, thou pure and holy thing,

What are the blessings thou dost bring?

Nay, rather, what is happiness

But love in some new guise or dress?

Even from birth ’tis love that fills

Each avenue of soul—instils

Its spiritual influence

And makes us all love excellence,

Whatever bears the noble stamp

Of great and good; ’tis this pure lamp

Which lights our path and gives us hope,

Extends our views to higher scope.

We love to read, to hear, to earn,

And why? because our spirits burn.