Father, long before creation

1
Father, long before creation,
  Thou hadst chosen us in love;
And that love, so deep, so moving,
  Draws us close to Christ above,
And will keep us, and will keep us,
  Firmly fixed in Christ alone,
  Firmly fixed in Christ alone.
2
Though the world may change its fashion,
  Yet our God is e'er the same;
His compassion and His cov'nant
  Through all ages will remain.
God's own children, God's own children,
  Must forever praise His name,
  Must forever praise His name.
3
God's compassion is my story,
  Is my boasting all the day;
Mercy free and never failing
  Moves my will, directs my way.
God so loved us, God so loved us,
  That His only Son He gave,
  That His only Son He gave.
4
Loving Father, now before Thee
  We will ever praise Thy love;
And our song will sound unceasing
  Till we meet Thy Son above,
Giving glory, giving glory,
  To our God and to the Lamb,
  To our God and to the Lamb.
28
Justin

Brookline, MA, United States

My favorite verse!


Ana Lara

Tolland, Connecticut, United States

Francis P. Jones (1890-1975) was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He entered Platteville Teachers Training College in 1907. In 1911 he continued his education at Northeastern University, Garret Evangelical Seminary and at the University of Chicago.

Jones went to Fukien, China in 1915 as a missionary. In 1930, he obtained a master of theology degree in Union Theological Seminary. He taught in Nanking and served in the hymnal committee which included Bliss Wiant to produce Hymns of Universal Praise (Pu Ti An Song Zan. )

In 1937, he taught New Testament studies in Nanking Seminary and founded the school of sacred music there.

In 1938, he began reading for his doctorate degree at Union Theological seminary.

During the Sino-Japanese War, he went to Szechwan Chanti to translate and edit classical Christian literature but had to stop because of the political upheaval.

In 1951, Jones returned to America and taught at Drew Theological Seminary and became the chief editor for China’s News in Brief for 11 years. He retired in 1960 but continued to translate in the Association of Theological Schools in S. E. Asia. His translations include works of E. D. E. Schleiermacher and Von Hagel. His contributions are commented as equivalent to that of Kumarajiva who in the Tang Dynasty translated major classical works of Buddhism.

methodistmission. org


Ben Dover

Praise the Lord!


Anonymous

Nashville, TN, United States

I appreciate stanza two. “ Though the world may change its fashion”. In light of Genesis 6:3 which says that indeed man is flesh we also have the full assurance that our God remains the same. Though the world may change praise the Lord we can lay our hands with full assurance on Christ who has completely fulfilled the type of the burnt offering for our sins and God is appeased.


Jadyn Montegreen

We worship the Father!!


Minnie Zhang

Loved this song!


Bette Keith

Australia

God's merciful covenant I think of as like the game of tennis in that the means to accomplish it may have changed but it is still the same game. God's everlasting Covenant is the same yesterday, today and forever. Praise Him for drawing us to Himself in His time and Providence.


Paul Tetteh

Germany

I am touched by stanza 3:

God’s compassion is my story,

Is my boasting all the day;

Mercy free and never failing

Moves my will, directs my way.

This corresponds to Lamentations 3:22-23 : It is Jehovah's lovingkindness that we are not consumed, For His compassions do not fail; They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

The fifth step is the turning. For example, after the remembrance of the Lord, we need to turn to worship the Father. Sometimes the Lord's table has not reached the point of worshipping the Father, but a brother selects Hymns, #33; sometimes a brother selects Hymns, #101 immediately after the bread and the cup have been passed. Both are inappropriate. Hence, there is the need of a sixth step for correction. Sometimes a meeting may be quite long. For example, when a great number of saints gather together, it may take a longer time for the bread and the cup to be passed. If this is the case, there may be the need to maintain the spirit through a hymn or some prayers. This is the seventh step, maintaining the spirit for the meeting. Even though we use hymns and prayers to maintain the spirit, there may still be the need to fill up the time with more prayers and singing. This is the eighth step. Then toward the end of the meeting comes the ninth step to sing a concluding hymn. Sometimes even though the meeting has ended, there is still a lingering air; thus, we may select another hymn to send the saints off. This is the tenth step. This can be compared to sending off a friend who has visited you by walking a distance with him.

Piano Hymns