Hymn III.

Thou didst, O mighty God, exist
 E'er time begun its race,
Before the ample elements
 Fill'd up the voids of space.

Before the pond'rous earthly globe
 In fluid air was stay'd,
Before the ocean's mighty springs
 Their liquid stores display'd:

E'er thro' the gloom of ancient night
 The streaks of light appear'd;
Before the high celestial arch,
 Or starry poles were rear'd:

Before the loud melodious spheres
 Their tuneful round begun,
Before the shining roads of heav'n
 Were measur'd by the sun:

E'er thro' the empyrean courts
 One hallelujah rung,
Or to their harps the sons of light
 Ecstatic anthems sung:

E'er men ador'd, or angels knew,
 Or prais'd thy wondrous name;
Thy bliss (O sacred spring of life!)
 And glory was the same.

And when the pillars of the world
 With sudden ruin break,
And all this vast and goodly frame
 Sinks in the mighty wreck;

When from her orb the moon shall start,
 The astonish'd sun roll back,
While all the trembling starry lamps
 Their ancient course forsake:

For ever permanent and fix'd,
 From agitation free,
Unchang'd in everlasting years
 Shall thy existence be.