Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family! Here is a passage to introduce the story of a loved hymn, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

A young man, sixteen years of age, from Montreal, became a Christian in 1862. After his conversion he wrote a simple hymn. He went to be with his Lord when he was just twenty seven years old, and perhaps this was the only hymn that he ever wrote. The title of the hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee.” The name of the young man was William Featherston.

He sent this poem to his aunt in Los Angeles, and then she sent it to England, where it appeared in the “The London Hymnbook” of 1864. The music that was set for this hymn is totally different than the one that we are familiar with.

A Baptist minister from Boston, Massachusetts, was preparing a new hymnal for Baptist congregations when he saw this lyrics in the hymnal from London; he felt in love with the lyrics but not with the music, and he wrote a new melody, a simple melody to match a simple hymn. The name of this pastor was A. J. Gordon, and he was a remarkable pastor in New England, but became more popular because he composed the music of this hymn that was written by a young man, a hymn that has been a blessing for many believers through the years.

Once again, enjoy and worship the Lord with the lyrics of “My Jesus, I love Thee.”

1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

3 I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

4 In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
​
In His service,
Israel