1 Jesus, Thy boundless love to me,
no thought can reach, no tongue declare;
O knit my thankful heart to Thee,
and reign without a rival there.
Thine wholly, Thine alone, I am;
be Thou my Rod and Staff and Guide.
2 O grant that nothing in my soul
may dwell, but Thy pure love alone!
O may Thy love possess my whole,
my Joy, my Treasure, and my Crown.
All coldness from my heart remove;
my every act, word, thought, be love.
3 O Love, how cheering is thy ray!
All pain before Thy presence flies;
care, anguish, sorrow, melt away,
where'er Thy healing beams arise.
O Jesus, nothing may I see,
nothing desire or seek, but Thee.
4 This love unwearied I pursue
and dauntlessly to Thee aspire.
O may Thy love my hope renew,
burn in my soul like heav'nly fire.
And day and night, be all my care
to guard this sacred treasure there.
Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #199
Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >
John Wesley, the son of Samuel, and brother of Charles Wesley, was born at Epworth, June 17, 1703. He was educated at the Charterhouse, London, and at Christ Church, Oxford. He became a Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, and graduated M.A. in 1726. At Oxford, he was one of the small band consisting of George Whitefield, Hames Hervey, Charles Wesley, and a few others, who were even then known for their piety; they were deridingly called "Methodists." After his ordination he went, in 1735, on a mission to Georgia. The mission was not successful, and he returned to England in 1738. From that time, his life was one of great labour, preaching the Gospel, and publishing his commentaries and other theological works. He died in London, in 17… Go to person page >
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