Before the heavens were spread abroad

Representative Text

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.

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #287

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Before the heavens were spread abroad
Author: Isaac Watts
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

MELCOMBE (Webbe)

Also known as: ST. PHILIPS BENEDICTION GRANTON NAZARETH MELCOMBE was first used as an anonymous chant tune (with figured bass) in the Roman Catholic Mass and was published in 1782 in An Essay on the Church Plain Chant. It was first ascribed to Samuel Webbe (the elder; b. London, England, 1740; d.…

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HARMONY GROVE


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 42 of 42)

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d55

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #17

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #244

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d66

Christian Hymns to be used by the Children of God. 2nd ed. #d13

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d97

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Church Psalmody #H86

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Church Psalmody #86

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Common Praise #164

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Every Sabbath #136d

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d99

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Laudes Domini #313

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Manual of Christian Psalmody #86

Melodies of the Church #d95

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #349

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #470

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Psalms and Hymns #96

Sacred poetry #d40

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Sacred Poetry #aH.XXVII

Sacred Poetry #d40

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Sacred Poetry #H.XXVII

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Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #283

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #283

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #283

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Songs for the Sanctuary #283

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Songs for the Sanctuary #283

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Songs for the Sanctuary #283

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The Baptist Psalmody #137

The Christian Melodist, a Collection of Popular Songs, for Use in Public and Social Meetings ... #d31

The Christian Psalmist #d53

The Christian Psalmist (Numeral ed.) 10th ed., 1st rev. ed. #d35

The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d65

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The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #44

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The Liturgy and the Offices of Worship and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum, or the Moravian Church #349

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The Lyrica #83

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The New Laudes Domini #332

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #287

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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #232

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The Voice of melody #6

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d37

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