O Thou, before the world began

O Thou, before the world began Ordained a sacrifice for man

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 13 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 O Thou, before the world began
Ordained a sacrifice for man,
And by th'eternal Spirit made
An offering in the sinner's stead;
Our everlasting Priest art Thou,
Pleading Thy death for sinners now.

2 Thy offering still continues new
Before the righteous Father's view;
Thyself the Lamb forever slain,
Thy priesthood doth unchanged remain;
Thy years, O God, can never fail,
Nor Thy blest work within the veil.

3 Oh, that our faith may never move,
But stand unshaken as Thy love!
Sure evidence of things unseen,
Now let it pass the years between,
And view Thee bleeding on the tree,
My Lord, my God, Who dies for me.

Amen.

The Hymnal: revised and enlarged as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O Thou, before the world began Ordained a sacrifice for man
Title: O Thou, before the world began
Author: Charles Wesley
Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

SURREY (Carey)


MELITA (Dykes)

The original chant melody associated with this text [i.e., "Eternal Father, strong to save"] is found in most hymnals of denominations where chant has played a role, including the Lutheran tradition, which has produced much organ music on this well-known chant. The setting here is by John B. Dykes (…

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BARRINGTON (Dykes)


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5357
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The Cyber Hymnal #5357

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CPWI Hymnal #615

Include 11 pre-1979 instances
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