Christian Love

←V. Communion with God

Christian Love  (1771)  Attributed to Christopher Smart without evidence.

VII. Humility→

From the APPENDIX to the Hymns Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1771).

HYMN VI.

CHRISTIAN LOVE.

Let men of high conceit and zeal,
Their fervors and their faith proclaim;
If Charity be wanting still,
The rest is but a sounding name.

Patient and meek, she suffers long,
And slowly her resentments rise;
Soon she forgets the greatest wrong,
And soon forgives her enemies.

She drives all malice from her breast,
To ill suspicions ne'er gives way; <10>
But ever hopes and thinks the best,
And as she thinks, is apt to say.

She envies none their better state,
But makes her neighbours bliss her own;
Nor vaunts herself with mind elate,
But still a modest air puts on.

Her neighbour's infamy and ill,
To her no entertainment give;
She's pleas'd to see him prosper still,
And still in good repute to live. <20>

This is the Grace that reigns on high,
And brightly will for ever burn:
When Hope shall in enjoyment die,
And Faith to intuition turn.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.