Scripture Verse

You did not choose Me, but I chose you. John 15:16

Introduction

portrait
Josiah Conder (1789–1855)

Words: Jo­si­ah Con­der, 1836.

Music: Sa­voy Cha­pel John B. Cal­kin, 1870 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

  • Aulé ar­ranged from Old Me­lo­dy by Eli­as H. John­son, The Bap­tist Hym­nal (Phi­la­del­phia Penn­syl­van­ia: Am­eri­can Bap­tist Pub­li­ca­tion So­ci­ety, 1883), page 47 (🔊 pdf nwc)
  • Crucifix Greek me­lo­dy (🔊 pdf nwc)

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

portrait
John B. Calkin (1827–1905)

Lyrics

’Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still re­fuse Thee,
Hadst Thou not chos­en me.
Thou from the sin that stained me
Hast cleansed and set me free;
Of old Thou hast or­dained me,
That I should live to Thee.

’Twas so­ve­reign mer­cy called me
And taught my op­en­ing mind;
The world had else en­thralled me,
To heav’n­ly glo­ries blind.
My heart owns none be­fore Thee,
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This know­ing, if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.