At first in Eden - Jones, Wilfrid

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"Ordination hymn."

◈ Genre → Hymns

♯ Key C major

♬ Voicing → SATB

◆ Difficulty

Intermediate

↕ Range F2 – E5

¶ Language → English

Measures 33

Texture Homophonic

Parts 2

Instruments Unknown

Pages 2

CPDL # 86046

Editor Wilfrid Jones

Posted 2025-07-23

License CPDL License

♫Pitch Ranges

MusicXML Part

F2 – E4

¶Lyrics / Text

At first in Eden Adam walked in friendship with God who made him priest to rule the earth, the garden temple hosted perfect worship of Him who brought creation to its birth. But with our fall, our sin demanded bloodshed, and Adam’s kingly priesthood fell away ’til God’s own Son, the fullness of the Godhead, rose in a garden early Easter Day. Along the ages God prepared His people, and through Melchizedek His priesthood flowed, old Abraham and Isaac made oblation, and upon Levi priesthood was bestowed. Eleven tribes received a land inheritance, but Aaron’s sons received the best reward, since they foretold the truth of God’s benevolence: The Priest who grace to humankind restored. Christ took his place as Priest and Spotless Victim within the tabernacle by His Blood, and praised the Father, who from heav’n had sent Him, the perfect Priest who showed us how to love. The Lord had sworn an oath to last for ever, so on the Cross His faithfulness was proved, that Christ’s own priesthood would become our treasure, which, in our baptism, our sin removed. Among our number, Christ has called some servants to shepherd souls towards His heavenly bliss; these messengers call us to true observance, call us to love when our hearts go amiss. These are the sentinels upon the watchtower, who guard Christ’s people from our fearsome foe. These are the stewards who, with God’s own power, absolve our sins and God’s own gifts bestow. <I>Wilfrid Jones