I have seen a lov­ing mo­ther
Clasp her child up­on her breast,
While her lips, with warm af­fect­ion,
To its own were fond­ly pressed.
But there’s love that’s deep­er, strong­er—
If you ask, How could it be?
Look where Christ my bless­èd Sav­ior
Died on Cal­va­ry for me!

Refrain

How much great­er! how much great­er,
Than the tru­est hu­man love could be
Is the love of Christ my Sav­ior,
Willing thus to die for one like me.

Songs I’ve heard of pure de­vo­tion,
Sweet as songs of birds in spring,
Voice the heart’s su­preme emo­tion—
Songs that on­ly love can sing—
But I think of One who loves me,
More than lov­er, more than friend,
Love that no­thing e’er can se­ver,
That will ne­ver, ne­ver end.

Refrain

When I was a sin­ful wan­d’rer,
All un­love­ly, all un­done,
Even then the Fa­ther loved me,
Gave for me His on­ly Son!
Wondrous love! it pass­eth know­ledge,
Higher than the high­est heav’n,
Jesus cru­ci­fied and dy­ing,
That my sins might be for­giv’n.

Refrain

Ties of friend­ship, ties of kin­dred,
Sacred bands that hold us, here,
Love for faith­ful ones that love us,
How they all our life en­dear!
But the love of Christ my Sav­ior,
How it doth my heart en­thrall!
For I know He loves me bet­ter,
And I love Him best of all.

Refrain