Perfect Love

Representative Text

1. Lord, I pray thee for a blessing,
Which thou only canst bestow:
Here, my deepest need confessing,
At thy feet my self I throw.
Faith and hope have both been given,
But there's one, all else above;
Hasten from the highest heaven,
Fill my soul with perfect love!

Refrain:
Perfect love my Saviour;
Fill me now with love.
Come, almighty to deliver,
Fill me now with perfect love.

2. Though I have all other graces,
Though I speak with tongue aflame;
Though I sit in heav'nly places,
Though I magnify thy name;
I am but as brass resounding,
Nothing in thy sight I prove,
Till thro' faith, by grace abounding,
I am perfected in love. [Refrain]

3. Though I yield my earthly treasure,
Give my body to the fire:
Tho' my knowledge has no measure,
Though all mysteries I desire;
Though I grasp the sacred story,
And by faith the mountains move;
Yet in all I dare not glory,
'Till I'm fill'd with perfect love. [Refrain]

4. Give me love that never faileth,
Love that suffers without moan;
That believeth and prevaileth,
Love that seeketh not her own:
Love that never thinketh evil,
But rejoiceth truth to prove;
Love that fears not man nor devil,
Give me, give me perfect love! [Refrain]

5. Love that ev'ry evil cureth,
Doth not envy, vaunteth not;
Beareth, hopeth, and endureth
All that falleth to my lot.
Faith, and hope, and love abideth,
But there's one all else above;
Lord, my yearning spirit chideth
For thy greatest gift of love. [Refrain]


Source: The Gospel Awakening: a collection of original and selected "hymns and spiritual songs" for the use in gospel meetings everywhere #37

Author: Russell Kelso Carter

Russel Kelso Carter was a professor in the Pennsylvania Military College of Chester. While there he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church. He became very active in leading camp meetings and revivals. After failing health forced him to abandon this work, he studied and became a medical doctor as well as a writer. He wrote novels as well as hymns. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, I pray Thee for a blessing
Title: Perfect Love
Author: Russell Kelso Carter
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Perfect love, my Lord and Savior!
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)
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Hymns of the Christian Life #233

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Songs of Perfect Love #2

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Songs of Victory #38

TextPage Scan

The Gospel Awakening #37

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