Scripture Verse

Because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Introduction

Introduction

Words: Fred­er­ick Whit­field, 1855. First pub­lished in leaf­let form, then in Whit­field’s Sac­red Po­ems and Prose (Ot­ley, West York­shire, & Lon­don: Will­iam Wal­ker & Sons, 1861), pag­es 5–6.

Music: 19th Cen­tu­ry Am­er­ican me­lo­dy (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Tyrone com­pos­er un­known, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Hym­nal, by George Booth & Hen­ry Cow­ard (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Pub­lish­ing House, 1889), num­ber 151 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Frederick Whitfield
1829–1904

Lyrics

There is a name I love to hear,
I love to speak its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear,
The sweetest name on earth.

Refrain

O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!

It tells me of a Savior’s love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner’s perfect plea.

Refrain

It tells me of a Father’s smile
Beaming upon His child;
It cheers me through this little while,
Through desert, waste, and wild.

Refrain

It tells me what my Father hath
In store for every day,
And though I tread a darksome path,
Yields sunshine all the way.

Refrain

It tells of One whose loving heart
Can feel my deepest woe;
Who in my sorrow bears a part,
That none can bear below.

Refrain

It bids my trembling heart rejoice;
It dries each rising tear;
It tells me, in a still small voice,
To trust and never fear.

Refrain

Jesus, the name I love so well,
The name I love to hear!
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.

Refrain

This name shall shed its fragrance still
Along this thorny road,
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill
That leads me up to God.

Refrain

And there, with all the blood-bought throng,
From sin and sorrow free,
I’ll sing the new eternal song
Of Jesus’ love to me.

Refrain