Holy Matrimony

O Love! divine and golden!
Mysterious depth and height!
To Thee the world, beholden,
Looks up for life and light:
O Love! divine and gentle!
The Blesser and the blest!
Beneath whose care parental
The world lies down in rest,

The fields of earth adore Thee,
The forests sing Thy praise.
All living things before Thee
Their holiest anthems raise:
Thou art the joy of gladness!
The Life of life Thou art!
The dew of gentle sadness.
That droppeth on the heart.

O Love! divine and tender!
That through our homes doth move,
Veil'd in the soften'd splendour
Of holy household love:
A throne, without Thy blessing.
Were labour without rest.
And cottages possessing
Thy blessedness, are blest.

The happy homes of England
In Thee, O Love! rejoice.
Their peace is in Thy presence,
Th w gladness in Thy Voice:
Good is God's holy pleasure.
When, through His bounty, comes.
In overflowing measure,
Thy gladness to our homes.

God bless these hands united,
God bless these hearts made one,
Unsever'd and unblighted
May they through life go on:
Here, in earth's home, preparing
For the bright Home above.
And there for ever sharing
Its joy, where " God is Love."