"Love is the lesson..."

Most glorious Lord of Life, that on this day
didst make thy triumph over death and sin,
and having harrowed hell didst bring away
captivity thence captive us to win,
this joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin.
And grant that we, for whom thou didst die,
being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin
may live forever in felicity!
And that thy love we weighing worthily
may likewise love thee for the same again;
and for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,
with love may one another entertain.
So let us love, dear Love, like as we ought;
love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.

Sonnet LXVIII, in The Works of Edmund Spenser (London, 1877), page 477.
HT: Ray Ortlund, Jr.