Jesu! The Very Thought Is Sweet

1 Jesu! -- the very thought is sweet!
In that dear name all heart-joys meet;
But sweeter than the honey far
The glimpses of his presence are.

2 No word is sung more sweet than this:
No name is heard more full of bliss:
No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh,
Than Jesus, Son of God most high.

3 Jesu! the hope of souls forlorn!
How good to them for sin that mourn!
To them that seek thee, O how kind!
But what art thou to them that find?

4 Jesu, thou sweetness, pure and blest,
Truth’s fountain, Light of souls distrest,
Surpassing all that heart requires,
Exceeding all that soul desires!

5 No tongue of mortal can express,
No letters write its blessedness:
Alone who hath thee in his heart
Knows, love of Jesus, what thou art.

6 *I seek for Jesus in repose,
When round my heart its chambers close;
Abroad, and when I shut the door,
I long for Jesus evermore.

7 *With Mary in the morning gloom
I seek for Jesus at the tomb;
For him with love's most earnest cry,
I seek with heart and not with eye.

8 *Jesus, to God the Father gone,
Is seated on the heavenly throne;
My heart hath also passed from me,
That where he is there it may be.

9 We follow Jesus now, and raise
The voice of prayer, the hymn of praise,
That He at last may make us meet
With him to gain the heavenly seat. Amen.


Source: The New English Hymnal #291a

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #3492