Before the heav'ns were spread abroad,
Was the eternal Word:
With God he was: the Word was God,
And is as God ador'd.

By his own pow'r all things were made;
By him upheld they stand:
He is the whole creation's head;
Hath th' angels at command.

Ere sin was hatch'd, or Satan fell:
He rul'd the morning stars.
[His generation who can tell,
Or his unnumber'd years?]

Yet, lo! he leaves these heav'nly forms,
Descends and dwells in clay;
That he may converse hold with worms,
Dress'd in such flesh as they.

Mortals, with joy, behold his face,
The eternal Father's Son,
When full of truth, and full of grace,
Thro' flesh the Godhead shone,

Arch-angels leave their high abode,
To learn their loves, and tell
The glories of th' incarnate God,
Our great Immanuel.