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CHRIST, WE COME BEFORE THEE

Scripture Verse

He…said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Matthew 19:4–5

Introduction

Words: Hen­ry J. Thomp­son, in Church Hymns (So­ci­ety for Pro­mot­ing Chris­tian Know­ledge, 1871).

Music: Edg­bas­ton Ti­mo­thy R. Mat­thews, 1871 (🔊 ).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Thomp­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Mat­thews, would you send us an e-mail?

portrait
Timothy R. Matthews
(1826–1910)

Lyrics

illustration

Christ, we come be­fore Thee
On this hap­py day;
Thine all price­less bless­ing
Grant us now we pray;
With this Chris­tian bride­groom,
With this Chris­tian bride,
Be Thou ev­er pre­sent,
Lord, and Life, and Guide.

Thou didst take our na­ture,
As a bride to be,
One with Thee, O Sav­ior,
Through eter­ni­ty;
Thou didst, as a bride­groom,
Wed Thy Church; and still
She re­flects Thy glo­ry,
Loving all Thy will.

Grant to Chris­tian bride­grooms
Such true love as Thine;
Grant to brides thus mar­ried
Like the Church to shine:
So shall life be glad­ness,
With Thee at their side;
All its joys and sor­rows
In Thee sanc­ti­fied.

For this first of bless­ings,
Dowry from above,
Bliss of holy mar­ri­age,
Joy of wed­ded love,
Father, Son and Spir­it,
Unto Thee we raise,
Heart and voice unit­ing,
Now our thank­ful praise.