True Love

Refrain: E.G. Nelson – A variation upon the Descant translated from the Latin by James Quinn (b. 1919) and the refrain by Henry Williams Baker (1821 – 1877)

Refrain: God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.

How easily we fall in love with that which we do hate;
And thus ignore those things we love while upon sin we sate.
Superficial beauties do serve to hypnotize the eye;
And inner worth is treated as if it were but a lie.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
If then we be enamoured to those things we do abhor,
To propose unto Satan seems to be our only chore.
Yes marriage with the Devil seems the sole hope we confide;
And Evil stands but ready to make us his willing bride.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
A progeny of vile deeds becomes our heart’s sole issue;
A legacy of lesions left to spread our hate anew.
Generations thus are giv’n to carry on this disease;
The payment for what we thought love does end in soul’s decease.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
Thus is seen ’twas not True Love with which we these sins embraced;
‘Twas false love masked as the true to where our hearts did race.
O that we might fall fast in love with that which is True Love;
We then would love that which we love and be with Christ above.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
Lord Jesus give us hearts that do love Thee forevermore;
Make our deeds the works of virtue from ‘midst Thy holy store.
Let our hearts become the Bride of Thee and only Thee;
Though we have erred we now confess we long Thy Bride to be.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
Lord give us hearts in which there only True Love does reside;
Meld our hearts in One Heart where only True Love does abide.
Give us the strength to make Thy Love our Love for all to see;
Reside in our hearts that we may, for e’er, reside with Thee.
God is Love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.
To God the Father of True Love we ever offer praise;
To Jesus Son of True Love we forever hearts upraise.
May co-equal Spirit of True Love thus be for e’er adored;
May we praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost forever more.
God is love and where True Love is Lord Jesus Christ resides.