Classic Poem

Bless'd be the everlasting God
And Father of our Lord,
Who us in him, and through his blood,
With heav'nly blessings stor'd.

“My Son's mine elect first,” he said,
Before he chose a man;
Then chose he us, in Christ our Head,
Before the world began.

Our characters were then decreed,
That we should holy be;
Blameless in love, a royal seed,
From sin and slav'ry free;

Predestinated to be sons,
A new regenerate race;
Born by degrees, though chose but once,
To praise his glorious grace.

Here his accepting love began
In Christ, to stand unmov'd,
And firm to us, until he can
Forget his first Belov'd:

In whom we have redemption great,
Peace, pardon, and solace:
Bought with the richest blood, and yet,
Brought from the richest grace.