Once_Again,_O_Blessed_Time.mid

1. Once again, O blessed time,
Thankful hearts embrace thee;
If we lost thy festal chime,
What could e’er replace thee?
What could e’er replace thee?
Change will darken many a day,
Many a bond dissever;
Many a joy shall pass away,
But the “Great Joy” never!

2. Once again the Holy Night
Breathes its blessing tender;
Once again the Manger Light
Sheds its gentle splendour;
Sheds its gentle splendour.
Oh! could tongues by Angels taught
Speak our exultation
In the Virgin’s Child that brought
All mankind Salvation?

3. Welcome Thou to souls athirst,
Fount of endless pleasure:
Gates of Hell May do their worse,
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!

4. 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.”

5. So we yield Thee all we can,
Worship, thanks, and blessing;
Thee true God, and Thee true Man,
On our knees confessing,
On our knees confessing.
While Thy Birth-day morn we greet
With our best devotion,
Bathe us, O most true and sweet!
In Thy Mercy’s ocean.

6. Thou that once, ’mid stable cold,
Wast in babe-clothes lying,
Thou whose Alter-veils enfold
Power and Life undying,
Thou whose Love bestows a worth
On each poor endeavour,
Have Thou joy of this Thy Birth
In our praise for ever.