My God I love Thee, not because

This is my 19th upload in the Lenten Hymn-of-the-Day project.

THANKS to ALL who have uploaded hymns! Your participation and help are greatly appreciated! :-)

The words today are translated from the 17th century Latin by Edward Caswall (1818-1874), and the tune "Solomon", is adapted from an aria by G. F. Handel's (1685-1759) oratorio of the same name, composed in 1759.

I must have been falling asleep when I played this, as it sounds too slow to me when I listen to it... :-(

ONE FULL VERSE for the INTRODUCTION. :-)

My God, I love thee; not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet because who love thee not
Are lost eternally.

THou, O my Jesus, 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 one
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesu Christ,
Should I not love thee well,
Not for the sake of winning heaven,
Or of escaping hell;

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as thyself hast loved me,
O ever-loving Lord!

E'en so I love thee, and will love,
And in thy praise will sing,
Solely because thou art my God,
And my eternal King.