Scripture Verse

I love Thee. John 21:15

Introduction

portrait
Frederick W. Faber (1814–1863)

Words: Fred­er­ick W. Fa­ber, Je­sus and Ma­ry (Lon­don: James Burns, 1849), pag­es 9–12. Au­thor of re­frain is un­known.

Music: Ar­ranged from Tau­bert (Wil­helm?) by R. Kel­so Car­ter, 1886 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
R. Kelso Carter (1849–1928)

Lyrics

O Je­sus, Je­sus! dear­est Lord!
Forgive me if I say
For ve­ry love, Thy sac­red name
A thou­sand times a day.

Refrain

O Je­sus, Lord, with me abide;
I rest in Thee, what­e’er be­tide;
Thy gra­cious smile is my re­ward;
I love, I love Thee, Lord!

I love Thee so I know not how
My trans­ports to con­trol;
Thy love is like a burn­ing fire
Within my ve­ry soul.

Refrain

O won­der­ful! that Thou shouldst let
So vile a heart as mine
Love Thee with such a love as this,
And make so free with thine.

Refrain

The craft of this wise world of ours
Poor wis­dom seems to me;
Ah! dear­est Je­sus! I have grown
Childish with love of Thee!

Refrain

For Thou to me art all in all,
My hon­or and my wealth,
My heart’s de­sire, my bo­dy’s strength,
My soul’s eter­nal health.

Refrain

Burn, burn, O love! with­in my heart,
Burn fierce­ly night and day,
Till all the dross of earth­ly loves
Is burned, and burned away.

Refrain

O light in dark­ness, joy in grief,
O Heav’n be­gun on earth;
Jesus! My love! My trea­sure! who
Can tell what Thou art worth?

Refrain

O Je­sus! Je­sus! sweet­est Lord!
What art Thou not to me?
Each hour brings joys be­fore un­known,
Each day new li­ber­ty!

Refrain

What li­mit is there to thee, love?
Thy flight, where wilt Thou stay?
On! on! our Lord is sweet­er far
Today than yes­ter­day.

Refrain

O love of Je­sus! Bless­èd love!
So will it ever be—
Time can­not hold thy won­drous growth,
No, nor eter­ni­ty!

Refrain