The first and great command, we own

Verse 1

The first and great command, we own, Is the pure love of God alone: First in antiquity, obeyed In Heav’n, before this Earth was made: And when the world began below, Congenial with the human soul, Deep in our inmost essence found, Engraved on an eternal ground.

Verse 2

How great in excellence, above All other laws, the law of love, Which does to God directly tend, And in its lovely Author end! In the new covenant of grace, It challenges the highest place, The Spirit of piety imparts, And breathes in all the children’s hearts.

Verse 3

Love, only love in justice great Renders to God his due complete, Its Author worthily adores, His universal good restores: It teaches us our rank to know, It lays the ransomed creature low, Constrains us at the throne to fall, And own that God is all in all.

Verse 4

Love, all-sufficient love alone Reduces all our wants to one, Richly that single want supplies, And gives us back our paradise: It makes and keeps us happy here, And pure before his face t’ appear; It sets the jewels in our crown And lifts us to our Father’s throne.

Verse 5

The saints alone can understand How vast the reach of this command, Which seizes, and refers to God Whate’er on creatures is bestowed! How needful every heart may feel This duty indispensible, When God himself and love are one, When heaven depends on love alone.

Verse 6

The great command, which here we know, Commensurate with life below, We wait to comprehend above In raptures of unbounded love, With that triumphant host to join In sweetest praise of love divine, Which, when our mourning days are past, Through all eternity shall last.