My God, I Love Thee

My God, I Love Thee

My God, I love Thee; not because
I hope for Heav’n thereby,
Nor yet because who love Thee not
May eternally die.

Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace.

And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;
E’en death itself; and all for man
Who was Thine enemy.

Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ
Should I not love Thee well?
Not for the hope of winning Heaven,
Nor of escaping hell.

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Nor seeking a reward,
But as Thyself hast lovèd me,
O everlasting 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.

Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me ~ Hymn

Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would Thy life in mine reveal;
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Savior speak.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear;
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord’s sincerity.

Tender Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would tender be;
Shut my heart up like a flower,
In temptation’s darksome hour;
Open it when shines the sun,
And his love by fragrance own.

Silent Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would quiet be,
Quiet as the growing blade
Which through earth its way has made;
Silently, like morning light,
Putting mists and chills to flight.

Mighty Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would mighty be;
Mighty so as to prevail
Where unaided man must fail;
Ever by a mighty hope,
Pressing on and bearing up.

Holy Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would holy be;
Separate from sin, I would
Choose and cherish all things good;
And whatever I can be
Give to Him who gave me Thee.

Words: Thomas T. Lynch, 1855.

Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face ~ Hymn

Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face

Here, O my Lord, I see you face to face,
Here would I touch and handle things unseen,
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
And all our weariness upon you lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with Thee the royal cup of heaven;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

I have no help but Thine, nor do I need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon;
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed
My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness,
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge and my peace
Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord, my God. Amen

Words: Horatius Bonar

Grander Than Ocean’s Story ~ Hymn

Grander Than Ocean’s Story

Grander than ocean’s story,
Or songs of forest trees;
Purer than breath of morning,
Or evening’s gentle breeze;
Clearer than mountain echoes
Ring out from peaks above,
Rolls on the glorious anthem
Of God’s eternal love.

Dearer than any friendship
Our truest comrades show;
Stronger than all the yearning
A mother’s heart may know;
Deeper than earth’s foundations,
And far above all thought;
Broader than Heav’n’s high arches—
The love that Christ has brought.

Richer than all earth’s treasures,
The wealth my soul receives;
Brighter than royal jewels,
The crown that Jesus gives;
Wondrous the condescension,
And grace beyond degree!
I would be ever singing
The love of Christ to me.

Words: William F. Sherwin, 1872.

By Grace Are Ye Saved ~ Hymn

 

By Grace Are Ye Saved

’Tis not by works that we have done,
Our souls redeemed will be;
But by the blood of God’s dear Son,
Who died on Calvary.

Refrain

By grace are ye saved,
By grace are ye saved thro’ faith,
And that not of yourselves,
It is the gift of God.
By grace are ye saved,
By grace are ye saved thro’ faith,
And that not of yourselves,
It is the gift of God.

’Tis not by works that we can do,
Our righteousness is vain;
But by what Christ Himself hath done,
Eternal life we gain.

Refrain

’Tis not by works of ours that we
Can know our sins forgiv’n;
But by the living word of Him
Who pleads for us in Heav’n.

Refrain

’Tis not our works, but Christ’s alone,
Then rest thy anxious soul;
For safe thou art on Him, thy rock,
While endless ages roll.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1899.

His Loving Arms Around Me ~ Hymn

His Loving Arms Around Me

I was far away from Jesus,
Dead in trespasses and sin,
And I thought for one so vile no hope could be;
But the blessèd Lord of Glory
Stooped and raised me to Himself,
And He put His loving arms around me.

Refrain

He put His loving arms around me;
He put His loving arms around me;
I looked into His face,
It beamed with tender grace,
As He put his loving arms around me.

Then He whispered to me pardon
Through the all atoning blood
Which He shed for my transgressions on the tree;
And the blessèd peace of Heaven
Came into my weary soul,
As He put His loving arms around me.

Refrain

Day by day He guides and keeps me
In the blessèd narrow way,
From the ban of sin and death He makes me free;
There’s no evil can befall me
While I’m resting in His grace,
And He has His loving arms around me.

Refrain

In the hour of deepest trial
When all earthly comfort fails,
And no cheering ray of sunshine I can see,
Then to Him I bring my sorrow,
And He wipes away my tears,
As He puts His loving arms around me.

Refrain

Oh this blessèd life in Jesus!
Sinner, won’t you hear His call?
From the power of sin’s dominion He can free;
Yield thy heart to Him this moment,
And with joy thou’lt surely find
That He’ll put His loving arms around thee!

He’ll put His loving arms around thee!
He’ll put His loving arms around thee,
Look up into His face,
It beams with tender grace,
And He’ll put His loving arms around thee.

Words: Ella M. Parks, 1901

Redemption ~ Hymn

 

Redemption

O wonderful words of the Gospel!
O wonderful message they bring,
Proclaiming a blessèd redemption
Thro’ Jesus, our Savior and king.

Refrain

Believe, oh, believe, in His mercy
That flows like a fountain so free;
Believe, and receive the redemption
He offers to you and to me.

He came from the throne of His glory,
And left the bright mansions above,
The world to redeem from its bondage;
So great His compassion and love.

Refrain

O come to this wonderful Savior,
Come, weary and sorrow oppressed;
Behold on the cross how He suffered,
That you in His kingdom might rest.

Refrain

There’s no other refuge but Jesus,
No shelter where lost ones may fly;
And now, while He’s tenderly calling:
turn ye, for why will ye die?

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1887.

Christ Above All Glory Seated ~ Hymn

 

Christ Above All Glory Seated

Christ, above all glory seated!
King triumphant, strong to save!
Dying, Thou hast death defeated;
Buried, Thou hast spoiled the grave.

Thou art gone, where now is given
What no mortal might could gain,
On the eternal throne of Heaven,
In Thy Father’s power to reign.

There Thy kingdoms all adore Thee,
Heaven above and earth below;
While the depths of hell before Thee
Trembling and defeated bow.

We, O Lord, with hearts adoring
Follow Thee above the sky!
Hear our prayers Thy grace imploring,
Lift our souls to Thee on high.

So when Thou again in glory
On the clouds of Heaven shalt shine,
We Thy flock may stand before Thee,
Owned for evermore as Thine.

Hail! all hail! in Thee confiding,
Jesus, Thee shall all adore,
In Thy Father’s might abiding
With one Spirit evermore!

Words: From a 13th Century Manuscript

What Is It for a Saint to Die? ~ Hymn

What is it for a Saint to Die?

What is it for a saint to die,
That we the thought should fear?
’Tis but to pass the heav’nly sky,
And leave pollution here.

True, Jordan’s stream is wondrous deep,
And Canaan’s walls are high;
But He, that guards us while we sleep,
Can guide us when we die.

A parting world, a gaping tomb,
Corruption and disease,
Are thorny paths to Heav’n our home,
And doors to endless bliss!

Eternal glory just before,
And Jesus waiting there,
A heav’nly gale to waft us o’er—
What have the saints to fear?

Words: Joseph Swain, 1792

The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns ~ Hymn

The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns

The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that Heav’n affords
Belongs to Him by right;
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And Heaven’s eternal Light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His name to know.

To them the cross with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of Heaven.

They suffer with their Lord below;
They reign with Him above;
Their profit and their joy to know
The mystery of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him,
His people’s hope, His people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.

Words: Thomas Kelly, 1820