Categories: hymns
Date: 21 December 2004 20:45:28
I first heard The Lord at First Did Adam Make when watching King's College Chapel's Nine Lessons and Carols. The Nine Lessons and Carols is something I always try and watch, as I do think it is a beautiful service (for those in Australia, it is on the ABC at 8:30pm this Thursday -- I'll have to tape The Amazing Race! ;-) ).
I like the way we move through the entire history of the world: from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. It is a wondrous thing to reflect on the entirety of salvation history, especially as we ponder the greatest event ever -- God Himself becoming Man. Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through Jesus Christ!
The Lord at first did Adam make out of the dust and clay,
And in his nostrils breathed life, e'en as the scriptures say.
And then in Eden's paradise he placèd him to dwell,
That he within it should remain, to dress and keep it well:Chorus:
Now let good Christians all begin an holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be for this is Christmas Eve.And thus within the garden he commanded was to stay;
And unto him in commandment these words the Lord did say:
The fruit that in the garden grows to thee shall be for meat,
Except the tree in the midst thereof, of which thou shalt not eat.Chorus
For in that day thou dost it touch, or dost it then come nigh,
And if that thou dost eat thereof, then thou shalt surely die.
But Adam he did take no heed to that same only thing,
But did transgress God's holy laws, and sore was wrapp'd in sin.Chorus
Now mark the goodness of the Lord which he to mankind bore;
His mercy soon he did extend, lost man for to restore:
And then, for to redeem our souls from death and hellish thrall,
He said his own dear Son should be the Saviour of us all:Chorus
Now for the blessings we enjoy, which are from heaven above,
Let us renounce all wickedness, and live in perfect love:
Then shall we do Christ's own command, e'en his own written word;
And when we die, in heaven shall enjoy our living Lord:Chorus
And now the tide is nigh at hand, in which our Saviour came;
Let us rejoice and merry be in keeping of the same:
Let's feed the poor and hungry souls, and such as do it crave;
Then when we die, in heaven we our sure reward shall have:Chorus
English Traditional