76. O Lord, Wherever Love Is Waning

1. O Lord, wherever love is waning,
There do Thy work in time to save!
There let Thy grace with power sustaining,
Flood new the love that all forgave!
From where the flame of love has died,
The light of faith will not abide.

2. We must confess to this, dear Savior,
For life has taught this from of old,
That where love’s flame has lost its fervor
The hearts grow desolate and cold.
Love is the essence of this life
And gives us strength for every strife.

3. Bind us with cords of love each hour,
O God, awaken us by grace,
And by Thy Spirit’s mighty power
Encourage us to run our race,
To see the perfect goal above,
Forever harbored in Thy love.

4. Preserve our first love’s high perfection
In all its warmth and purity;
Love banishes all self-affection
And sets the heart from evil free.
Love is the mark which makes it clear
That we are Thy disciples here.

5. Lo, where the warmth of love has vanished,
True holiness is found no more;
For love of self has not been banished
And love no faults doth cover o’er,
For where the peace of God departs,
Frivolity soon chills the hearts.

6. Love yearns for a sincere communion
And seeks a faithful brother-heart,
Love there rejoices in a union
Where brothers, from the world apart,
Stand heart to heart on common ground,
Where Christ’s own charity is found.

7. This charity is friendly, sparing;
It looks for brotherly accord,
Is ever patient and forbearing
And seeks not honor or reward,
Is clothed in sweet humility,
From every taint of evil free.

8. This charity is soon entreated;
Is not insistent on its right.
Is never proud or self-conceited
But finds enjoyment in the light
Of truth, and righteousness, and peace;
True charity shall never cease!

9. True charity no ill is seeking,
Is ready to give others aid;
And if the world is vengeance wreaking,
It trusts in God all unafraid,
Retaining still its confidence
That God will be a sure defense.

10. True charity is of God’s giving
And where love is, there God will be;
Where’er a man, reborn, is living,
There charity is like a sea.
Where charity now doth abound,
A child of God indeed is found.