Thou Art My God

My God, I love Thee; not becauseI hope for heaven thereby,Nor yet because who love Thee notAre lost eternally.

Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst meUpon the cross embrace;For me didst bear the nails, and spear, And manifold disgrace,

And griefs and torments numberless,And sweat of agony;Yea, death itself; and all for meWho was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,Should I not love Thee well?Not for the sake of winning heaven,Nor of escaping hell;

Not from the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward;But as Thyself hast loved me,O ever-loving Lord.

So would I love Thee, dearest Lord, And in Thy praise will sing;Solely because Thou art my God,And my most loving King.