"More Love to Thee"

Pastor George Printiss and his wife Elizabeth stood grief-stricken beside the grave of their four-year old son Eddy. The lad had contracted a disease, and within two months he died. The year was 1852; the place was New York City. Just a few months later, Elizabeth gave birth to Bessie, and three months later the infant died. The Lord had blessed Elizabeth with a talent for writing, and following these tragedies Elizabeth set pen to paper and composed the text of “More Love to Thee.”

More love to Thee, O Christ, More love to Thee!

Here Thou the prayer I make on bended knee

This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee,

More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, Send grief and pain,

Sweet are thy messengers, Sweet their refrain,

When they can sing with me – More love, O Christ to Thee,

More love to thee, More love to thee!

Then shall my latest breath Whisper thy praise,

This be the parting cry My heart shall raise:

This still its prayer shall be - More love, O Christ, to Thee,

More love to thee, More love to thee!