Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Jesus, the only thought of Thee

Representative Text

1 Jesus, the only Thought of thee
With Sweetness fills my Breast;
But sweeter far it is to see,
And in thy Beauty feast,

2 No Sound, no Harmony so gay,
Can Art of Music frame;
No Thoughts can reach, no Words can say
The Sweets of thy blest Name.

3 Jesus our Hope, when we repent,
Sweet Source of all our Grace;
Sole Comfort in our Banishment,
O! what, when Face to Face!

4 Jesus! that Name inspires my Mind
With Springs of Life and Light;
More than I ask in thee I find,
And lavish in Delight.

5 No Art, or Eloquence of Man,
Can tell the Joys of Love;
Only the Saints can understand
What they in Jesus prove.

6 Thee then I'll seek retir'd apart,
From World and Business free;
When these shall knock I'll shut my Heart,
And keep it all for thee.

7 Before the Morning Light I'll come,
With Magdalene to find
In Sighs and Tears, my Jesu's Tomb,
And there refresh my Mind.

8 My Tears upon his Grave shall flow,
My Sighs the Garden fill;
Then at his Feet myself I'll throw,
And there I'll seek his Will.

9 Jesus, in thy bless'd Steps I'll tread,
And walk in all thy Ways:
I'll never cease to weep and plead,
Till I'm restor'd to Grace.

10 O King of Love, thy blessed Fire
Does such sweet Flames excite;
That first it raises our Desire,
Then fill us with Delight.

11 Thy lovely Presence shines so clear
Thro' ev'ry Sense and Way,
That Souls which once have seen thee near,
See all Things else decay.

12 Come then dear Lord, possess my Heart,
Chase thence the Shades of Night;
Come pierce it with thy flaming Dart,
And ever-shining Light.

13 Then I'll for ever Jesus sing,
And with the Saints rejoice;
And both my Heart and Tongue shall bring
Their Tribute to my dearest King,
In never-ending Joys. Amen.



Source: The Christian's Duty: exhibited in a series of hymns collected from various authors designed for the worship of God, and for the edification of Christians (2nd ed.) #CXXXVIII

Author (attributed to): St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard of Clairvaux, saint, abbot, and doctor, fills one of the most conspicuous positions in the history of the middle ages. His father, Tecelin, or Tesselin, a knight of great bravery, was the friend and vassal of the Duke of Burgundy. Bernard was born at his father's castle on the eminence of Les Fontaines, near Dijon, in Burgundy, in 1091. He was educated at Chatillon, where he was distinguished for his studious and meditative habits. The world, it would be thought, would have had overpowering attractions for a youth who, like Bernard, had all the advantages that high birth, great personal beauty, graceful manners, and irresistible influence could give, but, strengthened in the resolve by night visions of his mother (who had died in 1… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Jesus, the only thought of Thee
Latin Title: Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Author (attributed to): St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as they are sung in the Catholic Church adapted to the voice or organ #39

Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
Page Scan

Catholic Church Hymnal with Music #23a

Page Scan

Catholic Church Hymnal with Music #23b

TextPage Scan

The Christian's Duty #CXXXVIII

TextPage Scan

The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns #CXXXVIII

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.