’TWAS with an everlasting love That God His own elect embraced, Before He made the worlds above, Or earth in her position placed.
Long before sun’s first brilliant ray Primeval shades of darkness drove, Saints in His arms of purpose lay, Loved with an everlasting love.
Then, in His wonderful decrees, Christ and His Church appeared as one: Her sin, by imputation, His, While she in spotless splendour shone.
Such love! how high its glories swell, How great, immutable, and free! Millions of sins, deserving hell, Were swallowed up, no more to be!
Loved, when a wretch defiled with sin, At war with Heaven, in league with hell, A slave to every lust obscene, Who, living, lived but to rebel.
Believing, here my comfort stands, Salvation undeserved and free! Such everlasting love demands An everlasting song from me.
John Kent, 1766-1843