430		LM
	’TWAS with an everlasting love    That God His own elect embraced, Before He made the worlds above,     Or earth in her position placed.
2	Long before sun’s first brilliant ray     Primeval shades of darkness drove, Saints in His arms of purpose lay,     Loved with an everlasting love.
3	Then, in His wonderful decrees,     Christ and His Church appeared as one: Her sin, by imputation, His,     While she in spotless splendour shone.
4	Such love! how high its glories swell,     How great, immutable, and free! Millions of sins, deserving hell,     Were swallowed up, no more to be!
5	Loved, when a wretch defiled with sin,     At war with Heaven, in league with hell, A slave to every lust obscene,     Who, living, lived but to rebel.
6	Believing, here my comfort stands,     Salvation undeserved and free! Such everlasting love demands     An everlasting song from me.
	John Kent, 1766-1843