This is one of my favorite old hymns. I know it primarily by this tune, but another familiar one is here as well as this one set to Pachelbel’s Canon. My favorite instrumental version is on a Steve Pettit CD.
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
~ Charles Wesley, 1747
Stray Thoughts 
I love that song too. I listened to your favorite version–really pretty with the dulcimer. I have posted a really neat song done in Hungary on resurrection Sunday in April.
This is one of my favorites. I remember singing it by my Grandmother’s side when I was just a child.
It is very nice Barbara. Have a great Sunday 🙂
Always a favorite for me, too.
I do not know HOW you continually come up with these hymns I have never heard before! I can only assume that each “faith” has it’s own group of songs… and that mine and yours have not crossed hymnals!!! LOL! This IS a lovely one! Again!
This is wonderful.
Thanks for sharing the various versions of “Love Divine.” Beecher, your first mentioned tune, was written by John Zundel (born 195 years ago today). That’s likely the melody familiar to most.
I’m afraid the setting to Pachelbel’s Canon left me cold. Too plodding for such thrilling words. My own favourite is the Welsh tune Blaenwern. The triumphant climax of the tune perfectly fits the rising excitement of the last lines of each stanza. No other tune I’ve seen so perfectly matches Wesley’s words.
P.S. Intended to mention this (old guy’s memory!): The tune Blaenwern works wonderfully with “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” as wel.