Of the Father's love begotten

Of the Father's love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

At his word the words were framèd;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean
in their threefold order one;
all that grows beneath the shining
of the moon and burning sun,
evermore and evermore!

O that birth for ever blessèd,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Savior of our race;
and the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!

This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord;
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long expected,
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
angel-hosts, his praises sing;
powers, dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men,
thee let boys in chorus sing;
matrons, virgins, little maidens,
with glad voices answering:
let their guileless songs re-echo,
and the heart its music bring,
evermore and evermore!

Christ, to thee with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
and unwearied praises be;
honor, glory and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore!

Words: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413);
trans. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), 1854;
and Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877), 1861

Music: Divinum mysterium (Corde natus)

Meter: 87 87 87 7

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874 046 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869 044 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874 084 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874 088 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924 056 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890 085 Gulworthy  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Darlington) 052 Corde natus (Smart)  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Parker) 052 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Hutchins) 052 Corde natus (Smart)  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau) 052 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium), Prudentius  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Helfenstein) 052 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Messiter) 052 Daystar  
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
      
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903 093 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904 093 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium), Corde natus (York)  
The English Hymnal, 1906 613 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Book of Common Praise, 1908 076 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Hymnal 1916 074 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919 087 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920
(Hutchins)		 050 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium), Corde natus (Smart)  
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925 068 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Songs of Praise, 1925 447 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931 387 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Book of Common Praise, 1938 079 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Hymnal 1940 020 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950 058 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960 067 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965 109 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Hymn Book 1971 429 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977 215 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The Hymnal 1982 082 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983 325 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
The New English Hymnal, 1985 033 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996 395 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Common Praise (The Anglican Church of Canada), 1998 132 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999 290 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000 064 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000 486 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000 175 Corde natus (Divinum mysterium)  

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2003.