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Lord Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou, If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now. |
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I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now. |
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I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now. |
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In ages eternal of endless delight I’ll ever adore Thee in glory so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now. |
The author was 16 when he wrote this hymn.
Hymns, #544 says, "Lord Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; / For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign; / My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou, / If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, 'tis now." The typical experience of new believers after they are saved is that they desire to be delivered from their sinful living because of their love for the Lord. A sister may pray, "Lord, thank You for cleansing me with Your precious blood, and thank You that the Holy Spirit has entered into me. From now on I will be more patient with my husband and will no longer lose my temper with him," However, this kind of prayer does not work. After she prays, this sister may still lose her temper and may even become worse. Some believers who have had such an experience may begin to doubt the Lord Jesus, feeling that He is not real, because such prayers and vows do not work.
I wish to give an illustration of this kind of experience. About fifty years ago I lived in Chefoo. At that time not many families in that city had electric lights; instead, most used kerosene lamps. A brother among us who specialized in installing electric lights told me that I needed electric lights and offered to install them for me. However, the evening after he installed the electric lights, I still asked my children to bring matches to light the lamps, because after decades of using kerosene lamps I was not yet accustomed to turning on electric lights. As soon as they heard me asking for matches, they broke out into laughter, saying, "We already have electric lights installed in the house. Why do we need to light the kerosene lamps!" I was reminded then to use the switch, and the lights turned on. Twenty-five years ago when I visited different places in the United States to minister, I often took hospitality in the saints' homes. In some homes the rooms in which I stayed had electric lights, but I was unable to turn them on because the switches were hidden from view.
The salvation that we received at our regeneration may be likened to electric lights. Before we received salvation, it was as if we had no ''electric lights" installed and were still using "kerosene lamps." After we received salvation, the "electric lights" were installed, yet we were still not accustomed to "switching on the lights." Thus, we did not know how to apply the salvation that we had received. The fact that the Lord Jesus was crucified for us may be easy to understand, but the fact that He became the Spirit to dwell in us may be abstract. Some believers may wonder how the great Savior can dwell in man who is small. However, this is the word of the Bible (John 14:17; 1 Cor. 3:16). The Gospel of John records that after the Lord resurrected, He came to the disciples and breathed into them, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (20:22). This indicates that the Lord be-came the Spirit and that the Spirit is the Lord's breath (1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17). The disciples' receiving the Spirit may be compared to our breathing in air. Whether sitting or standing, we are always breathing, and our breathing refreshes us. After we believed in the Lord, we had not only peace and joy but also the feeling of being refreshed. Although we may not have shouted excitedly, we nevertheless felt inwardly refreshed because the Lord as air entered into us.
As saved ones, we have the Lord's precious blood and the Holy Spirit, both of which are effective. We love the Lord and desire to please Him, but we often unintentionally fail. For instance, when a saint speaks a word contrary to our opinion, we may feel offended and lose our temper. After believing in the Lord, our inner being was refreshed, but today we may no longer feel refreshed, because we may have often failed and lost our temper. Whenever we fail, we need to heed 1 John 1: 9, which says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This refers to the efficacy of Christ's precious blood. His blood not only cleanses us from our sins but also purifies our con-science (Heb. 10:22). Whenever we sin, our conscience becomes un-clean. However, when our conscience is cleansed by the blood, we can have fellowship with God and with our fellow believers (1 John 1:6-7). Moreover, the Holy Spirit within us supplies us continually. If we are willing to remain in the death of the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit will be able to apply the effectiveness of His death to us. When we deny ourselves, we afford the Holy Spirit within us an opportunity to supply life to us. When He supplies us, we can bear the unbearable and do the impossible. Although I sometimes feel powerless to speak for the Lord, the Holy Spirit supplies me within so that I am empowered to speak.
Piano Hymns
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The closer I get to Him the more precious this song - music and words - are to me.
Irving, TX, United States
It is my prayer that when Jesus comes back to take us with Him. William Ralf Featherstone will hear the trumpet sound from his grave where he is sleeping and behold the face of Jesus. The one he truly loved. This hymn is a blessing to me!!!!!
TX, United States
Thank you for posting this sweet hymn I learned as a child. I awoke this morning, away from home, and wanted to hear it, and enjoyed it so much. I do lovee Thee Lord Jesus!
Detroit, MI, United States
William Featherston(e) was born in Montreal, Canada, the son of Wesleyan Methodist parents. It is believed that he wrote this hymn in 1862 at the age of 16 right after his conversion. Information on William Featherstone is scarce. Apparently he sent this hymn to his aunt in Los Angeles, who encouraged him to have it published. Mysteriously, it appeared anonymously in "The London Hymnbook", published in 1864. It is reported that the original poem in the boyish handwriting is still cherished by the family. Featherstone died at the early age of 27. The simplicity of loving the Lord in youth is demonstrated in this hymn. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin
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The original says "My Jesus" instead of "Lord Jesus" throughout.
In the 1st stanza the original said "follies" instead of "pleasures".
The last stanza, 1st 2 lines says:
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
Detroit, MI, United States
A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ.
She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude.
But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’
This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.” - Sankey's Story of the Gospel Hymns
Jackson Heights (queens, Nyc), NY, United States
Thank you, Norma, for sharing this beautiful testimony from your aunt. Although it is heart-wrenching, even chilling to imagine in some ways, what these faithful people endured, it is also awe-inspiring and greatly encouraging to consider their steadfast faith in the God who brought them through it, all the way, to His Kingdom in Glory.
It is also so uplifting to read the comments from brothers and sisters around the globe, in places far and wide. And to think, this hymn was written by a 16-year old believer! Lord Jesus, I love You!
Dili, East Timor
Yes.. Jesus is my Rock and my Deliverer
He is only the One who sits in my heart.
I wanted love Him until He come back for twice to pick me up.
Despite I have to through joy and bad and I will never disown Him in my life.
I love Jesus and Jesus is number one in my life.
Kasane, Botswana
Yes, indeed thank you for sharing this uplifting story with us. My Jesus I love Thee, I KNOW Thou art mine.. what a testimony - and to think we shall meet those who were martyred for their faith in glory. May we too be found faithful, may we too Name the Name of Jesus and stand up for Christ no matter what and through the power of the Holy Spirit may we go in the strength of the Lord.
Spokane, Washington, United States
Norma C. Fay, thank you for sharing your story. I was deeply touched. What a beautiful witness for Christ these believers were!! Truly, they gloried Christ in death.... and loved Him to their very last breath: "....and say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, 'If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus 'tis now!". The testimony you shared of their courage (given to them by the Holy Spirit's power in their lives) has encouraged me greatly to stand strong in Christ no matter what comes my way. WHAT A SAVIOUR WE HAVE!!!
Minehead, Somerset, United Kingdom
Norma, that is an incredible story, wow wow wow.
This was my favourite hymn as a boy in the Assemblies in South Wales UK. I used to sob every time we sang it. We are singing it on Sunday when I preach for the first time in my new church after moving areas. I bet I will shed a tear on Sunday :)