Scripture Verse

Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29

Introduction

portrait
Johann Scheffler (1624–1677)

Words: Jo­hann Scheff­ler, Hei­lige Seel­en­lust 1657 (Liebe die du mich zum Bilde). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Ly­ra Ger­ma­ni­ca, 1858.

Music: Bre­men Ge­org Neu­mark, 1641 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Lyrics

O Love, who formedst me to wear
The im­age of Thy God­head here;
Who sought­est me with ten­der care
Thro’ all my wan­der­ings wild and drear;
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.

O Love, who ere life’s ear­li­est dawn,
On me Thy choice hast gent­ly laid;
O Love, who here as man wast born,
And whol­ly like to us wast made;
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.

O Love, who once in time wast slain,
Pierced through and through with bit­ter woe;
O Love, who wrest­ling thus didst gain
That we eter­nal joy might know;
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.

O Love, of whom is truth and light,
The Word and Spi­rit, life and pow­er,
Whose heart was bared to them that smite,
To shield us in our trial hour:
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.

O Love, who thus hast bound me fast
Beneath that ea­sy yoke of Thine;
Love, who hast con­quered me at last,
Enrapturing this heart of mine—
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, only Thine to be.

O Love, who lov­est me for aye,
Who for my soul dost ev­er plead;
O Love, who didst that ran­som pay
Whose pow­er suf­fic­eth in my stead;
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.

O Love, who once shalt bid me rise
From out this dy­ing life of ours;
O Love, who once o’er yon­der skies
Shalt set me in the fade­less bow­ers;
O Love, I give my­self to Thee,
Thine ev­er, on­ly Thine to be.