Hymns to the Living God ‎#234

234. My God, I Love Thee

1 My God, I love Thee; not because
I hope for heav'n thereby,
nor yet for fear that loving not
I might forever die;
but for that Thou didst all mankind
upon the cross embrace;
for us didst bear the nails and spear,
and manifold disgrace;

2 And griefs and torments numberless,
and sweat of agony;
e'en death itself, and all for man,
who was Thine enemy.
Then why, most loving Jesus Christ,
should I not love Thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heav'n,
nor any fear of hell;

3 Not with the hope of gaining aught,
nor seeking a reward,
but as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever loving Lord!
E'en so I love Thee, and will love,
and in Thy praise will sing,
solely because Thou art my God
and my eternal King!

Text Information

• First Line: My God, I love Thee, not because
• Title: My God, I Love Thee
• Author (attributed to): Francis Xavier, 16th cent.
• Translator: Edward Caswall (1849)
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Salvation

Tune Information

• Name: KINGSFOLD
• Harmonizer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1906)
• Meter: CMD
• Key: e minor
• Source: English Country Songs, 1893