BECAUSE HE LOVED THEE by Fannie Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 24, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 46.

"BECAUSE HE LOVED THEE."

By Fannie Bolton

BY FANNIE BOLTON.

THE Lord hath chosen thee, Not for thy wealth, for thou art very poor, Nor for thy beauty, for thou art not fair, Nor hast one charm a follower to allure. Blind, wretched, miserable, naked thou, And yet in pity see The King of kings stoops low to crown thy brow, And he hath chosen thee.

LOVERS of earth love for some charm they see, For glance of eye, for rosy bloom of youth, For graceful form, for mind of brilliancy, For soul of honor, or for voice of truth; But Jesus, Lover of thy soul, loves thee For love's sake, for thy need's sake, lost and lone, For his own pity drawn compassionately, And claims thee for his own.

He stands beside thy heart's door patiently, Knocking for entrance, pleading, waiting long. He hears thee weep, and whispers tenderly His comfort sweet and strong. If thou wilt ope thy door, he'll enter in And set the captive free, And cleanse thy soul from sorrow and from sin. For this he chooseth thee.

Hear how he pleads: "I've gold for thee, tried gold, The gold of love, and raiment white as wool. I've balm for all thy wounds, love to enfold, And all things beautiful. A mansion for thy dwelling fair and high, Bought with my blood for all eternity, A royal crown no wealth could ever buy— For this I've chosen thee.

"I've chosen thee for noble destiny, For glory like my own, of high desire, For heart unselfish, glad nobility That mounts up high and higher. Because I've loved thee, in most bitter pain I died to turn thy wayward heart to me, And canst thou bide such love to plead in vain, Since I have chosen thee?"