My God, I love Thee—not because
I hope for heaven thereby;
Nor yet because who love Thee not
Must burn eternally.
After recounting Christ's vicarious sufferings as the chief claim to His disciples' unselfish love, the hymn continues,—
Cur igitur non amem Te,
O Jesu amantissime!
Non, ut in cœlo salves me,
Aut in æternum damnes me.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,