MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE

 

MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE There is some confusion surrounding the actual author of this hymn, but researchers believe that James Haynes Duffell is the most likely. James Duffell was born in West Bromwich, England in 1811 where he lived most of his life. He worked as an iron smelter. He was married with three children. James emigrated to Sydney, Australia, in 1881 and died there in 1883 at the age of 72. The life of James Duffell was mostly unremarkable; perhaps even forgettable, except for close family members. But he did one small thing that brings his name forward to our time: he wrote a poem and mailed it to his aunt. A friend of Mr. Duffell’s said the poem was written during a period of great difficulty in the man's life. The aunt had it published. Someone else set it to music, and that poem became one of the most beloved songs in church hymnbooks: My Jesus I Love Thee. 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. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE HYMN ON YOUTUBE