It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.

The Glory of my bright - est days, And Com-fort of my nights!

because who love Thee not Must die e- ter-nally. A-MEN.

559 (XAVIER) C. M.

1 My God, I love Thee; not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet because who love Thee not
Must die eternally.

2 Thou, O Lord Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace;

For me didst bear the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace,

3 And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;

E'en death itself; and all for one
Who was Thine enemy.

Rev. John Ryland, 1777

4 Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ,
Should I not love Thee well?
Not for the hope of winning heaven,
Or of escaping hell;

5 Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as Thyself hast lovèd me,
O ever-loving Lord?

6 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.

From a 17th century Latin version of a Spanish sonnet ascribed to Francis Xavier,
c. 1546. Trans. by Rev. Edward Caswall, 1849: verse 1, lines 3, 4, alt.

Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faith - ful