ought and word.

JESUS, I LOVE THEE

Jesus, I love thee, not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet because, if I love not,
I must forever die.

I love thee, Saviour dear, and still
I ever will love thee,
Solely because my God, thou art,
Who first hast loved me.

For me to lowest depth of woe
Thou didst thyself abase;
For me didst bear the cross and shame,
And manifold disgrace;

For me didst suffer pain unknown,
Blood-sweat and agony--
Yea, death itself--all, all for me,
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Saviour mine.
Should I not love thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heaven
Nor of escaping hell.

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Nor seeking a reward;
But freely, fully, as thyself
Hast loved me, O Lord!

Even so I love thee, and will love,
And in thy praise will sing,
Solely because thou art my God
And my eternal king.

--Francis Xavier.

I'VE FOUND A JOY IN SORROW

I've found a joy in sorrow,
A secret balm for pain,
A beautiful to-morrow
Of sunshine after rain;
I've found a branch of healing
Near every bitter spring,
A whispered promise stealing
O'er every broken string.

I've found a glad hosanna
For every woe and wail,
A handful of sweet manna
When grapes of Eschol fail;
I've found a Rock of Ages
When desert wells were dry;
And, after weary stages,
I've found an Elim nigh--

An Elim with its coolness,
Its fountains, and its shade;
A blessing in its fullness
When buds of promise fade;
O'er tears of soft contrition
I've seen a rainbow light;
A glory and fruition
So near!--yet out of sight.

My Saviour, thee possessing,
I have the joy, the balm.
The healing and the blessing.
The sunshine and the psalm;
The promise for the fearful,
The Elim for the faint,
The rainbow for the tearful,
The glory for the saint!

PATIENCE OF JESUS

What grace, O Lord, and beauty shone
Around thy steps below!
What patient love was seen in all
Thy life and death of woe!

For ever on thy burdened heart
A weight of sorrow hung;
Yet no ungentle, murmuring word
Escaped thy silent tongue.

Thy foes might hate, despise, revile,