All My Heart This Night Rejoices - The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Christmas Day
The Word Made Flesh
Laurentius Laurenti, 1700
Source: Lyra Germanica: First Series, Songs for the Household, 1855
O Thou essential Word,
Who from eternity
Didst dwell with God, for Thou wast God,
Who art ordain'd to be
The Saviour of our race;
Welcome indeed Thou art,
Blessed Redeemer, Fount of Grace,
To this my longing heart!
Come, self-existent Word,
And speak within my heart,
That from the soul where Thou art heard,
Thy peace may ne'er depart.
Thou Light that lightenest all,
Abide through faith in me,
And let me never from Thee fall,
And seek no guide but Thee.
Why didst Thou leave Thy throne,
O Jesus, what could bring
Thee to a world where e'en Thine own
Knew not their rightful King?
Thy love beyond all thought
Stronger than Death of Hell,
And my deep woe, this wonder wrought,
That Thou on earth dost dwell.
Then help me, Lord, to give
My whole heart unto Thee,
That all my life while here I live
One song of praise may be.
Yes, Jesus, form anew
This stony heart of mine,
And let it e'en in death be true
To Thee, for ever Thine.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
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