Author: Edward Henry Bickersteth, 1825 - 1906 Appears in 8 hymnals Lyrics: 1 O God, I love thee; not that my poor love
May win me entrance to thy heaven above,
Nor yet that strangers to thy love must know
The bitterness of everlasting woe.
2 But, Jesus, thou art mine, and I am thine;
Clasped to thy bosom by thy arms divine,
Who on the cruel Cross for me hast borne
The nails, the spear, and man’s unpitying scorn.
3 No thought can fathom and no tongue express
Thy griefs, thy toils, thy anguish measureless,
Thy death, O Lamb of God the undefiled;
And all for me, thy wayward sinful child. A-men.
4 How can I choose but love thee, God’s dear Son,
O Jesus, loveliest, and most loving One!
Were there no heaven to gain, no hell to flee,
For what thou art alone I must love thee.
5 Not for the hope of glory or reward,
But even as thyself hast loved me, Lord,
I love thee, and will love thee and adore,
Who art my King, my God, for evermore.
Amen. Topics: The Church Year Lent; The Life In Christ Contemplation Used With Tune: PAX DEI Text Sources: Latin hymn, XVII cent. Based on a Spanish hymn of unknown date
O God, I love thee; not that my poor love
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