Scripture Verse

We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Introduction

Words: George O. March, in The Re­vi­val No. 6, by Charles D. Till­man (At­lan­ta, Geor­gia: Char­lie Till­man, 1910), num­ber 7.

Music: Old Black Joe Ste­phen C. Fos­ter, 1860 (some sourc­es say 1853) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of March (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Stephen C. Foster (1826–1864)

Lyrics

Gone are the days
When my heart was filled with sin;
Gone are the fears
That pre­vent­ed peace with­in;
Gone are earth’s woes,
From their blight I am set free;
Since Christ in love and mer­cy
Freely par­doned me.

Refrain

I love Him! I love Him!
Because He first loved me!
And pur­chased my sal­va­tion
On Mount Cal­va­ry.

Once I was bound,
But now I am set free;
Once I was blind,
But now by faith I see;
Once I was dead,
But now in Christ I live;
And tell the world of par­don
He doth free­ly give.

Refrain

Why should I weep,
When my heart can feel no pain?
Why should I sigh,
When death in Christ is gain?
Victor o’er sin,
Thro’ Him who once was slain,
I’ll shout eter­nal prais­es,
Glory to His name!

Refrain