In deep, eternal counsel

1 In deep, eternal counsel,
Before the world was made,
Before its deep foundations
On nothingness were lad;
God purposed us for blesing,
And chose us in His Son,
To Him to be conformed,
When here our course was run.

2 In present, blest acceptance
In Him who came to die;
In Him, who now is seated
At Thy right hand on high;
In grace, which is unchanging,
We stand from day to day,
And prove the boundless mercies
Which strew our pilgrim way.

3 And when the day of glory
Shall burst upon this scene,
Dispelling all the darkness
Which deep'ning still had been;
Oh, then He'll come in brightness,
Whom ev'ry eye shall see,
Arrayed in pow'r and glory,
And we shall with Him be.

4 For He who left His glory,
To die upon the tree,
Will soon complete the story
And come again, and we,
Conformed to His image,
As known, be brought to know,
And with increasing fervor,
Our ceaseless praise shall flow.

Source: A Few Hymns and Some Spiritual Songs. Selected 1856, for the Little Flock. Revised, 1881 #141