撰文／赞美诗源考小组策划 丁春芳撰稿｜圣灵月刊360期-2007.09｜主题／牧养我一生的神
作词：W. Spencer Walton, 1894 作曲：Adoniram Judson Gordon, 1836-1895 曲调名：TENDERNESS，76.76.88副
<第一节谱例与中、英文歌词> In tenderness He sought me, Weary and sick with sin; 主大慈爱寻找我，前曾沉罪恶间，
高登（Adoniram Judson Gordon, 1826-1895）出生于新罕布什尔州，纽约布朗大学神学博士，是美国浸信会著名的牧师。多年来一直致力于发掘新的圣诗，让信徒吟唱。
本诗歌是从他于1870年出版的《The London Hymn Book》中所挑选出来的。因他被其中的歌词所吸引，但对该诗的旋律并不满意，有一天，脑海中突然浮现出一段咏叹调的灵感，于是他立即配上本诗的歌词，因而成就了这首〈妙爱找我〉，并于1876年出版。
高登同时也是当时著名的布道家慕迪（Moody）的同工，协助福音布道团选词、教唱与领诗的工作。
原来的英文诗歌有五节歌词，但在中文赞美诗中，仅有四节歌词。
本诗是依据：“人子来，为要寻找，拯救失丧的人”而写，这也呼应了《路加福音》在十五章4-6、10节所述：“你们中间谁有一百只羊失去一只，不把这九十九只撇在旷野、去找那失去的羊，直到找着呢？找着了，就欢欢喜喜的扛在肩上，回到家里，就请朋友邻舍来，对他们说：‘我失去的羊已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜吧！’我告诉你们，一个罪人悔改，在天上也要这样为他欢喜。”将人子寻获迷羊的心情及一个回转向神的心灵的满足表露无遗。
注：本诗有二个通用的曲调名 TENDERNESS与O THE LOVE，均为神大慈爱之意。
1 主大慈爱寻找我，前曾沉罪恶间；且显大力怀抱我，安放羊圈里面；激动天使欢欣歌唱，颂赞歌声充满天上。 2 主看见我受损伤，用油和酒包裹，又以恩言安慰我，并说：“你永属我”；我未曾听如此佳音，能叫我心满足、欢欣。 3 主的两手有钉痕，宝血为我流出，人用荆棘作冠冕，戏弄加上凌辱；主爱极大，怜我罪人，甘愿为我受苦、舍身。 4 我虽在世为客旅，心里却无忧虑，忍耐行完主旨意，到主降临日子；那时接我到祂身边，与祂同在，圣洁无愆。 副歌：爱何大，寻找我！血何宝，洗净我！恩何多，领我与神复和！主爱我，我不惧怕风波。
In tenderness He sought me, Weary and sick with sin; And on His shoulders brought me Back to His fold again. While angels in His presence sang Until the courts of heaven rang.
He washed the bleeding sin wounds, And poured in oil and wine; He whispered to assure me, "I’ve found thee, thou art Mine"; I never heard a sweeter voice; It made my aching heart rejoice!
He pointed to the nail prints, For me His blood was shed, A mocking crown so thorny Was placed upon His head; I wondered what He saw in me, To suffer such deep agony.
I’m sitting in His presence, The sunshine of His face, While with adoring wonder His blessings I retrace. It seems as if eternal days Are far too short to sound His praise.
So while the hours are passing, All now is perfect rest, I’m waiting for the morning, The brightest and the best, When He will call us to His side, To be with Him, His spotless bride.
Oh, the love that sought me! Oh, the blood that bought me! Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold, Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.