And Is the Gospel Peace and Love?

And is the Gos­pel peace and love?

Such let our con­ver­sa­tion be;

The ser­pent blend­ed with the dove

Wisdom and meek sim­pli­ci­ty.

Whene’er the an­gry pass­ions rise

And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife

To Je­sus let us lift our eyes

Bright pat­tern of the Christ­ian life!

O how be­ne­vo­lent and kind!

How mild! how rea­dy to for­give!

Be this the tem­per of our mind

And these the rules by which we live.

To do His heav’n­ly Fa­ther’s will

Was His em­ploy­ment and de­light;

Humility and ho­ly zeal

Shone through His life

di­vin­ely bright!

Dispensing good wher­e’er He came

The la­bors of His life were love;

O

if we love the Sav­ior’s name

Let His di­vine ex­am­ple move.

But ah

how blind! how weak we are!

How frail! how apt to turn aside!

Lord

we de­pend upon Thy care

And ask Thy Spir­it for our guide.

Thy fair ex­am­ple may we trace

To teach us what we ought to be;

Make us by Thy trans­form­ing grace

Dear Sav­ior

dai­ly more like Thee.