Adventist Pioneer Library

Christ — First Advent

Before the heavens were spread abroad

  • No. 287
  • Words Isaac Watts.
  • 4 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

Before the heavens were spread abroad,
From everlasting was the Word;
With God he was, the Word was God!
And must divinely be adored.

2

Ere sin was born, or Satan fell,
He led the host of morning stars;
His generation who can tell,
Or count the number of his years?

3

But lo! he leaves those heavenly forms;
The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That he may converse hold with worms,
Dressed in such feeble flesh as they.

4

The angels leave their high abode,
To learn new mysteries here, and tell
The love of our descending God,
The glories of Immanuel.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «287» (large) in the right column of p. 93, below hymn 286, with the reference line «168, 64, 136.» (italic) beside it; «Isaac Watts.» in italics after stanza 4. The first word «BEFORE» is set in capitals and small capitals. The second and fourth verse of every stanza are indented (layout only, not reproduced). The print sets a thin space before «;», «!» and «?» («Word ;», «God !», «stars ;», «years ?», «lo !», «forms ;»); it is closed up here. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's. No meter is printed (the text is L. M., like its three reference tunes).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
Christ — First Advent · No. 287 · printed page 93
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01