Word Supreme, Before Creation

Word su­preme

be­fore cre­ation

Born of God eter­nal­ly

Who didst will for our sal­va­tion

To be born on earth

and die;

Well Thy saints have kept their sta­tion

Watching till Thine hour is nigh.

Now ’tis come and faith es­pies Thee;

Like an eag­let in the morn

One in stead­fast wor­ship eyes Thee;

Thy be­loved

Thy lat­est born;

In Thy glo­ry he des­cries Thee

Reigning from the tree of scorn.

He up­on Thy bo­som ly­ing

Thy true to­kens learned by heart;

And Thy dear­est pledge in dy­ing

Lord

Thou didst to Him im­part;

Show’dst Him how

all grace sup­ply­ing

Blood and wa­ter from Thee start.

He first hop­ing and be­liev­ing

Did be­side the grave adore;

Latest he

the war­fare leav­ing

Landed on the eter­nal shore;

And his wit­ness we re­ceiv­ing

Own Thee Lord for­ev­er­more.

Much he asked in lov­ing won­der

On Thy bo­som lean­ing

Lord!

In that sec­ret place of thun­der

Answer kind didst Thou ac­cord

Wisdom for Thy church to pon­der

Till the day of dread award.

Lo! Heav’n’s doors lift up

re­veal­ing

How Thy judg­ments earth­ward move;

Scrolls un­fold­ed

trum­pets peal­ing

Wine cups from the wrath ab­ove

Yet o’er all a soft voice steal­ing—

Little child­ren

trust and love!

Thee

the al­migh­ty King eter­nal

Father of the eter­nal Word;

Thee

the Fa­ther’s Word su­pe­rnal

Thee

of both

the breath ad­ored;

Heaven

and earth

and realms in­fer­nal

Own

one glo­ri­ous God and Lord.