Once Again, O Blessèd Time

Once again

O bless­èd time

Thankful hearts em­brace thee;

If we lost thy fes­tal chime

What could ev­er re­place thee?

What could ev­er re­place thee?

Change will dark­en ma­ny a day

Many a bond dis­sev­er;

Many a joy shall pass away

But the Great Joy nev­er.

But the Great Joy nev­er.

But the Great Joy nev­er!

Once again the ho­ly night

Breathes its bless­ing ten­der;

Once again the man­ger light

Sheds its gen­tle splen­dor

Sheds its gen­tle splen­dor;

Oh! could tongues by an­gels taught

Speak our ex­ul­ta­tion

In the vir­gin’s child that brought

All man­kind sal­va­tion?

In the virg­in’s child that brought

All man­kind sal­va­tion?

All man­kind sal­va­tion?

All man­kind sal­va­tion?

Welcome Thou to souls athirst

Fount of end­less plea­sure:

Gates of Hell may do their worst

While we clasp our trea­sure

While we clasp our trea­sure;

Welcome

though an age like this

Puts Thy name on tri­al

And the truth that makes our bliss

Pleads against de­ni­al

Pleads against de­ni­al

Pleads against de­ni­al!

Yea

if oth­ers stand apart

We will press the near­er;

Yea

O best fra­ter­nal Heart

We will hold Thee dear­er

We will hold Thee dear­er;

Faithful lips shall an­swer thus

To all faith­less scorn­ing

Je­sus Christ is God with us

Born on Christ­mas morn­ing.

Born on Christ­mas morn­ing.

Born on Christ­mas morn­ing.

So we yield Thee all we can

Worship

thanks

and bless­ing;

Thee true God

and Thee true Man

On our knees con­fess­ing;

While Thy birth­day morn we greet

With our best de­vo­tion

Bathe us

O most true and sweet!

In Thy mer­cy’s ocean.

Bathe us

O most true and sweet!

In Thy mer­cy’s ocean.

In Thy mer­cy’s ocean.

Thou that once

’mid sta­ble cold

Wast in babe-clothes ly­ing

Thou whose al­tar veils en­fold

Power and life un­dy­ing

Power and life un­dy­ing;

Thou whose love be­stows a worth

On each poor en­dea­vor

Have Thou joy of this Thy birth

In our praise for­ev­er.

In our praise for­ev­er.

In our praise for­ev­er.