John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811–1875)

GOD is Love, by Him upholden

Hang the glorious orbs of light,

In their language, glad and golden,

Speaking to us day and night

Their great story,

God is Love, and God is Might.

And the teeming earth rejoices

In that message from above,

With ten thousand thousand voices

Telling back, from hill and grove,

Her glad story,

God is Might, and God is Love.

With these anthems of creation,

Mingling in harmonious strife,

Christian songs of Christ’s salvation,

To the world with blessings rife,

Tell their story,

God is Love, and God is Life.

Through that precious Love He sought us,

Wand’ring from His holy ways,

With that precious Life He bought us;

Then let all our future days

Tell this story:

Love is Life—our lives be Praise.

Gladsome is the theme, and glorious,

Praise to Christ our gracious Head,

Christ, the risen Christ, victorious

Death and hell hath captive led.

Welcome story!

Love lives on, and Death is dead.

Up to Him let each affection

Daily rise, and round Him move

Our whole lives, one Resurrection

To the Life of life above;

Their glad story,

God is Life, and God is Love.