O Thou from all eternity, Who didst descend to come and be

1 O Thou from all eternity!
Who did'st decend to come and be
An infant brought before the Lord,
As was directed in his word.

2 Thy presence caus'd thy Saint's rejoice:
They with thanksgiving rais'd their voice,
To see the Lord whom they had sought
Into the Holy Temple brought.

3 That which is to the world unknown
To ev'ry seeking soul is shown;
They who do humbly seek their God,
Shall have such grace on them bestow'd.

4 God's counsels they are truly great,
Yet such as humbly on him wait;
To such the Lord will still unfold,
As unto Simeon of old.

5 Their Lord and Saviour they shall find:
They see him with the eye of mind;
Their hearts with faith and hopes are fill'd,
Thus is their Lord to them reveal'd.

6 But sorrow mingle with their joys,
And otherwise their mind employs:
As was the Virgin Mary's case,
Tho' she embrac'd the king of peace.

7 Her darling son, was Christ indeed,
Who came to crush the Serpants head,
But O, the tooth that pierc'd his heel!
What sorrows it caus'd her to feel.

8 As Simeon there had prophecied,
Her dearest son was crucified;
The sight thereof it was a dart,
A sword that pierc'd her tender heart.

9 Thus we rejoice and mourn again,
Our joys and hopes are oftimes slain;
But still our faith and hope increase,
Till we depart this world in peace.

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #XXIII