James Montgomery

The Christian Graces. -- 1 Cor. xiii.13.

Faith, Hope, and Charity, -- these three,

Yet is the greatest Charity!

Father of lights, those gifts impart

To mine and every human heart: --

Faith, that in prayer can never fail,

Hope, that o'er doubting must prevail,

And Charity, whose name above

Is God's own name, for "God is love."

The morning star is lost in light,

Faith vanishes at perfect sight;

The rainbow passes with the storm,

And Hope with sorrow's fading form: --

But Charity, serene, sublime,

Beyond the range of death and time,

Like the blue sky's all-bounding space,

Holds heaven and earth in its embrace.