1 Once, only once, and once for all,
his precious life he gave;
before the cross our spirits fall,
and own it strong to save.
2 'One off'ring, single and complete,'
with lips and hearts we say;
but what he never can repeat
he shows forth day by day.
3 For, as the priest of Aaron’s line
within the holiest stood,
and sprinkled all the mercy-shrine
with sacrificial blood;
4 so he who once atonement wrought,
our Priest of endless power,
presents himself for those he bought
in that dark noontide hour.
5 His manhood pleads where now it lives
on heaven's eternal throne,
and where in mystic rite he gives
its presence to his own.
6 And so we show thy death, O Lord,
till thou again appear;
and feel, when we approach thy board,
we have an altar here.
*7 All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.
Source: CPWI Hymnal #617
First Line: | Once, only once, and once for all |
Author: | William Bright |
Meter: | 8.6.8.6 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Liturgical Use: | Communion Songs |
Once, only once, and once for all. Holy Communion. Written in 1865, and published in his Hymns, &c, 1866, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. It was given in the Appendix to Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868; the new edition, 1875, and several other collections.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)