Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
George W. Chadwick (1854–1931)

Words: Jean In­ge­low, 1879. Ap­peared in Ho­ly Songs, ca­rols and Sac­red Ball­ads (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ro­berts Bro­thers, 1880).

Music: Peace (Chad­wick) George W. Chad­wick, 1890 (🔊 pdf nwc). Chad­wick wrote the tune spe­ci­fic­al­ly for this hymn.

Alternate Tunes:

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Jean Ingelow
1820–1897

Lyrics

I sought the Lord, and af­ter­ward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seek­ing me.
It was not I that found, O Sav­ior true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine en­fold;
I walked and sank not on the storm vexed sea.
’Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole
Of love is but my an­swer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou were long be­fore­hand with my soul,
Always Thou lov­est me.