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The United Methodist Hymnal · No. 470 · Words: Edward Caswall (tr.) · Tune: WINCHESTER OLD
My God, I Love Thee
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →A devotional hymn declaring love for God not out of fear of hell or hope for heavenly reward, but for love alone. Based on a Latin poem attributed to St. Francis Xavier, translated into English by Edward Caswall in 1849.
Verse 1
My God, I love thee,
not because I hope
for heaven thereby,
nor yet because, if I love not,
I must forever die.
Verse 2
Thou, O my Jesus,
thou didst me
upon the cross embrace;
for me didst bear
the nails and spear
and manifold disgrace.
Verse 3
Then why, O blessed
Jesus Christ,
should I not love thee well?
Not for the sake
of winning heaven,
nor of escaping hell.
Verse 4
Not with the hope
of gaining aught,
not seeking a reward,
but as thyself
hast loved me,
O everlasting Lord.
Verse 5
So would I love thee,
dearest Lord,
and in thy praise will sing;
because thou art
my loving God
and my eternal King.
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