Jesu, Thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare :
O, knit my thankful heart to Thee,
And reign without a rival there.
Thine wholly, Thine alone I am:
Be Thou alone my constant flame. or me?
2 O, grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell, but Thy pure love alone:
O, may Thy love possess me whole,
My joy, my treasure, and my crown.
Strange fires far from my soul remove,
My every act, word, thought, be love.
3 O Love, how cheering is Thy ray!
All pain before Thy presence flies;
Care, anguish, sorrow melt away
Where'er Thy healing beams arise:
O Jesu, nothing may I see,
Nothing hear, feel, or think but Thee!
4 My Saviour, Thou Thy love to me
In want, in pain, in shame, hast showed;
For me on the accursed tree
Thou pouredst forth Thy guiltless blood:
Thy wounds upon my heart impress,
Nor aught shall the loved stamp efface.
5 O that I as a little child
May follow Thee, nor ever rest
Till sweetly Thou hast poured Thy mild
And lowly mind into my breast.
Nor may we ever parted be
Till I become one spirit with Thee.
6 What in Thy love possess I not?
My Star by night, my Sun by day;
My Spring of Life when parched with drought,
My Wine to cheer, my Bread to stay,
My Strength, my Shield, my safe Abode,
My Robe before the throne of God!
7 Unwearied may I this pursue,
Dauntless to the high prize aspire;
Hourly within my breast renew
This holy flame, this heavenly fire;
And day and night be all my care
To guard this sacred treasure there.
Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)
Translated from the German by John Wesley.