I ran across this hymn today and wanted to post it here for others to enjoy. I like to take in the full picture at Christmas. That the birth of Christ was a long-awaited promise. It is good to look back at the very beginning, in the Garden, where things went wrong and where the original, perfect plan was marred. It renews my hope and wonder this Christmas to see that even then, God was making things right through his Promised Son.
Praise the Lord!
An Olney Hymn
Genesis 3
1 On man, in his own image made,
How much did God bestow?
The whole creation homage paid,
And own’d him, Lord, below!
2 He dwelt in Eden’s garden, stor’d
With sweets for ev’ry sense;
And there with his descending Lord
He walk’d in confidence.
3 But oh! By sin how quickly chang’d!
His honor forfeited,
His heart, from God and truth, estrang’d,
His conscience fill’d with dread!
4 Now from his Maker’s voice he flees,
Which was before his joy:
And thinks to hide, amidst the trees,
From an All-seeing eye.
5 Compell’d to answer to his name;
With stubbornness and pride
He cast, on God himself, the blame,
Nor once for mercy cry’d.
6 But grace, unask’d, his heart subdu’d
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith, the promis’d seed he view’d,
And felt his pow’r to save.
7 Thus we ourselves would justify,
Tho’ we the Law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.
8 But when by faith the sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood;
Then he forsakes his foolish pleas,
And gladly turns to God.
