376

"Holy Ghost the Infinite.”

2 We are sinful, cleanse us, Lord;
We are faint, Thy strength afford;
Lost, until by Thee restored,
Comforter Divine!

3 Like the dew, Thy peace distil;
Guide, subdue our wayward will,
Things of Christ unfolding still,
Comforter Divine!

4 In us, for us, intercede,

And with voiceless groaning plead
Our unutterable need,
Comforter Divine !

5 In us "Abba, Father," cry,
Earnest of our bliss on high,
Seal of immortality,

Comforter Divine!

6 Search for us the depths of God; Bear us up the starry road,

3 Prophecy will fade away, Melting in the light of day; Love will ever with us stay:

Give us heavenly Love.
4 Faith will vanish into sight,

Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright:
Give us heavenly Love.

5 Faith and Hope and Love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;

But the greatest of the three,
And the best, is Love.

3p. Christopher Wordsworth. (1807-) 1862. ab. and alt.

378

A Prayer to the Holy Ghost.

I THOU who like the wind dost come,
Come to me; but ne'er depart:
Blesséd Spirit, make Thy home
In my thankful heart.

2 Answer not with tongues of light;
Brood not o'er me like a dove;
Fall upon me in Thy might;
Fill me with Thy love.

3 Sin has ruled me; set me free.
Sin has scourged me; bring me rest.
Help my fainting soul to flee

To my Saviour's breast.

4 Tell me much of cleansing blood;
Show me sin, but sin forgiven:
Step by step, where Christ has trod,
Help me home to heaven.

Rev. Hervey Doddridge Ganse. (1822-) 1873.

2 Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come, with treasures which endure, Come, Thou Light of all that live. 3 Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow, 4 Thou in toil art comfort sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, Solace in the midst of woe.

5 Light immortal, Light divine, Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill.

6 If Thou take Thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay;

All his good is turned to ill.

7 Heal our wounds, our strength renew On our dryness pour Thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away.

8 Bend the stubborn heart and will, Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray.

9 Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee adore,

In Thy sevenfold gifts descend

10 Give them comfort when they die, Give them life with Thee on high; Give them joys which never end.

383

Robert 11. King of France. (972-1031.)
Tr. by Rev. Edward Caswall. (1814-) 1840.

"The Promise of the Father."
Acts i. 4,

HOLY Ghost that, promised, came
With the Pentecostal flame,

Comforter, we hail Thy name. 2 For Thy mighty help we call; On our waiting spirits fall;

Fill us, cheer us, rule us all.

3 'Neath Thy breath our graces bloom; Flee our wintry shades and gloom;

Come! our hearts prepare Thee room. 4 If but Thou within us move, We shall mount on wings of love, Joyous as the hosts above.

5 O what raptures may we feel, If but Thou our eyes unseal,

And the things of Christ reveal. 6 Blessed Helper, by Thee led, On, our willing feet shall tread,

Till we see our glorious Head. 7 Then, immortal years begun, While the eternal circuits run, Praise, all Heaven, the Three in One! Rev. Ray Palmer, (1808-) 1873

ELBERFELD. L. M. 61.

Valentine Schumannsches Gesangbuch 1539Har. by Ludwig Christian Erk. (1807-) 1863.

384

"Veni Creator Spiritus." 2 O Source of uncreated light,

The Father's promised Paraclete;
Thrice holy Fount, thrice holy Fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and Thy sacred unction bring,
To sanctify us while we sing.

3 Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
Rich in Thy sevenfold energy,
Thou Strength of His almighty hand,
Whose power doth heaven and earth com-
Proceeding Spirit, our Defence, [mand,
Who dost the gift of tongues dispense.

4 Refine and purge our earthly parts;
But, O inflame and fire our hearts;
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practise all that we believe:
Give us Thyself, that we may see
The Father and the Son, by Thee.
5 Immortal honors, endless fame,
Attend the almighty Father's name!
The Saviour Son be glorified,
Who for lost man's redemption died!
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Paraclete, to Thee!

Unknown Author of the 7th or 8th century.
Tr. by John Dryden. (1631-1700.) 1699. ab.

385

Groaning for the Spirit of Adoption.

I WHEN shall I hear the inward voice,
Which only faithful souls can hear?
Pardon, and peace, and heavenly joys
Attend the promised Comforter:
He comes! and righteousness divine,
And Christ, and all with Christ, is mine.
2 O that the Comforter would come,
Nor visit as a transient guest;
But fix in me His constant home,

And keep possession of my breast,
And make my soul His loved abode,
The temple of indwelling God.

3 Come, Holy Ghost, my heart inspire;
Attest that I am born again;
Come, and baptize me now with fire,

Or all Thy former gifts are vain.
I cannot rest in sins forgiven;
Where is the earnest of my heaven?
4 Where the indubitable seal,

That ascertains the kingdom mine?
The powerful stamp I long to feel,
The signature of love divine:
O shed it in my heart abroad,
Fulness of love, of heaven, of God!
Rev. Charles Wesley (1708-1788.) 1740. ab.

my doubtful way,

2 From the discoveries of Thy law
The perfect rules of life I draw:
These are my study and delight;
Not honey so invites the taste,
Nor gold that hath the furnace past
Appears so pleasing to the sight.

3 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies;

But 't is Thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin,

And gives a free, but large reward.

4 Who knows the errors of his thoughts?
My God, forgive my secret faults,
And from presumptuous sins restrain;
Accept my poor attempts of praise,
That I have read Thy book of grace,
And book of nature, not in vain.

387

Rev. Isaac Watts. (1674-1748.) 1719.
God praised for His Word.
Ps. lvi.

I JOIN, all ye servants of the Lord,
To praise Him for His sacred word,
That word, like manna, sent from heaven,
To all who seek it freely given;
Its promises our fears remove,
And fill our hearts with joy and love.

[2 It tells us, though oppressed with cares,
The God of mercy hears our prayers;
Though steep and rough the appointed way,
His mighty arm shall be our stay;
Though deadly foes assail our peace,
His power shall bid their malice cease.

3 It tells who first inspired our breath,
Whose blood redeemed our souls from death;
It tells of grace, grace freely given,
And shows the path to God and heaven:
O bless we, then, our gracious Lord
For all the treasures of His word.