My Lord, I did not choose you
for that could never be;
my heart would still refuse you
had you not chosen me:
you took the sin that stained me,
you cleansed me, made me new,
for you, Lord, had ordained me,
that I should live in you.

Unless your grace had called me
and taught my opening mind
the world would have enthralled me,
to heavenly glories blind:
my heart knows none above you;
for you I long, I thirst,
and know that, if I love you,
Lord, you have loved me first.


J. Conder (1789-1855)