My God! I love Thee, not because
I hope for heaven thereby;
Nor yet because, if I love not,
I must forever die;

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

Thou, O my Saviour, Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace,
For me didst bear the nails and spear
And manifold disgrace,

And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony,
E'en death itself---and all for me,
Who was Thine enemy.

Then why, since Thou first lovedst me,
Should I not love Thee well,
E'en though I had not heaven to win
Or to escape from hell?

So will I love Thee, dearest Lord,
And in Thy praise will sing,
Because Thou art my Savior God,
And my eternal King.

Francis Xavier. Translated by Edward Caswall

Copied from my grandmother’s hymnal, Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South: Nashville, TN, 1901, Hymn #151.

Note: This hymn is in the public domain. Also, the hymns in this hymnal are not titled. So when I do not know the hymn, I generally use the first line as the title.

Photo taken in Milton, FL, 2021

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