Love of Jesus

It Passeth Knowledge, That Dear Love of Thine, sometimes called Love of Jesus, is a hymn written by Mary Shekleton in 1863.

Mary Shekleton was born in 1827. She died in Dublin, Ireland, September 28, 1883. An invalid for many years, Mary wrote several hymns. She also served as secretary of the Invalid’s Prayer Union. Some of her hymns are published in Chosen—Chastened—Crowned. Memorials of Mary Shekleton, late Secretary of the Invalid’s Prayer Union, by her Sister, M. S. (Margaretta Shekleton, London: James Nisbet & Co., 1884). This hymn is the first hymn in the book, untitled, appearing on pages 4-5. It is presented here as in the book, which differs slightly from the arrangement of the words in some hymnals.

It Passeth Knowledge, That Dear Love of Thine is metered with four lines of 10s and one line of 4s. It is most often paired with It Passeth Knowledge by Ira D. Sankey (probably written for this hymn) – and sometimes with Barnstable.

1. It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Saviour; yet this soul of mine
Would of Thy love, in all its breadth and length,
Its height and depth, its everlasting strength,
Know more and more.

2. It passeth telling, that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Saviour; yet these lips of mine
Would fain proclaim to sinners, far and near,
A love which can remove all guilty fear,
And love beget.

3. It passeth praises, that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Saviour; yet this heart of mine
Would sing that love, so full, so rich, so free,
Which brought a rebel sinner, such as me,
Nigh unto God.

4. But though I cannot sing, or tell, or know
The fulness of Thy love, while here below,
My tiny vessel I may freely bring;
O Thou who art of love the living spring,
My vessel fill.

5. I am an empty vessel—not one thought,
Or look of love, I ever to Thee brought;
Yet I may come, and come again to Thee,
With this, the empty sinner’s only plea,
Thou lovest me.

6. Oh fill me, Jesus, Saviour, with Thy love!
Lead, lead me to the living fount above;
Thither may I, in simple faith, draw nigh,
And never to another fountain fly,
But unto Thee.

7. And when my Jesus face to face I see,
When at His lofty throne I bow the knee,
Then of His love, in all its breadth and length,
Its height and depth, its everlasting strength,
My soul shall sing.