WHEN first, in counsel deep, Eph. 1:4.
The Church was brought to view
In God’s eternal mind, Eph. 3:11
Though none His purpose knew,
The Father gave her to the Son, John 17:2, 5
And He betrothed her for His own.
But when, in after days,
She brake His holy word, Rom. 5:12
And treacherously untrue,
Departed from the Lord;
He brought her back, though hell withstood, Rev. 1:5.
Wash’d from her sins in His own blood.
Part of that Church are we, 1 John 5:50
Whom He did thus redeem, Eph. 1:7
Learning by daily proof, 1 John 1:7, 9.
Our daily need of Him; 1 Pet. 2:4.
Taught by the Spirit to confess
Jesus our only Righteousness. 1 Cor. 1:30.
Yea more, to crown the whole,
His gracious plan to prove,
Our union ‘s found in Christ,
Nor earth nor hell can move; Rom. 8:39.
One Spirit with the Lord this proves,
In loving us, Himself He loves. 1 Cor. 7:12.
Nor can He cease to love, John 13:1
For His own precept is,
“Ye husbands, love your wives;”
And will not Christ love His? Rev. 22:9.
Will He not cherish and refresh Eph. 5:29.
Bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh?
O yes! Christ loves the Church, Eph. 5:25
‘Tis her He lives to bless; Heb. 8:25
He cannot love her more, John 15:13
Nor will He love her less; Heb. 8:8
Fair in His sight, cleans’d by His word, Eph. 5:26, 27.
A Bride adorn’d meet for her Lord. Rev. 19:7