COME, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With light and comfort from above;
Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide,
O'er ev'ry thought and step preside.
The light of truth to us display,
And make us know and love Thy way;
Plant holy fear in ev'ry heart,
That we from God may ne'er depart.
Lead us to holiness, the road,
The narrow road which leads to God;
Bring us to Christ, the Living Way,
Nor let us from Him ever stray.
Lead us to God, our only rest,
To be with Him for ever blest;
Lead us to heaven, its bliss to share,
Fulness of joy for ever there.
COME, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
And visit all the souls of Thine ;
Thou hast inspired our hearts with life;
Inspire them now with life divine.
Thou art the Comforter, the Gift
Of God most High, the Fire of Love,
The Everlasting Spring of Joy,
And Holy Unction from above.
Thy gifts are manifold; Thou writ'st
God's law in ev'ry faithful heart:
The Promise of the Father, Thou
Dost heavenly eloquence impart.
Enlighten our dull souls till they
Thy love, Thy heavenly love, embrace;
And, since we are by nature frail,
Assist us with Thy strength'ning grace.
COME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire:
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love :
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.
Direct and guide our wayward heart And to our steps that light impart; Keep far our foes, give peace at home: Where Thou art guide no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee, of both, to be but One;
That, through the ages all along,
may be our endless song,-
Praise to Thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
COME, let us join our cheerful songs,
With angels round the throne;
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
"Worthy the Lamb that died!" they cry,
"To be exalted thus !"
Worthy the Lamb!" our lips reply;
"For He was slain for us."
Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine :
And blessings, more than we can give,
Be, Lord, for ever Thine.
Let all that dwell above the sky,
And air, and earth, and seas,
Conspire to lift Thy glories high
And speak Thine endless praise.
The whole creation join in one,
To bless the sacred Name
Of Him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
COME, O come! with sacred lays
Let us sound th' Almighty's praise;
Hither bring, in true consent,
Heart, and voice, and instrument.
To your voices tune the lute;
Let not tongue nor string be mute;
Not a creature dumb be found
That hath either voice or sound.
Let such things as do not live
In still music praises give:
Lowly pipe, all ye that creep
On the earth or in the deep;
Birds, your warbling treble sing;
Clouds, your peals of thunder ring
Sun and moon, exalted higher,
And you, stars, augment the choir.
Come, ye sons of human race,
In this chorus take your place;
And amid this mortal throng
Be ye masters of the song.
Let, in praise of God, the sound
Run a never-ending round;
That our holy hymn may be
Everlasting, as is He.
So shall He, from heaven's high tower
On the earth His blessing shower;
All this huge wide orb we see
Shall one choir, one temple be.
Then our voices we will rear,
Till we fill it everywhere.
Come, O come, with sacred lays,
Let us sound th' Almighty's praise.
COME, pure hearts, in sweetest measures
Sing of those who spread the treasures
In the holy Gospels shrined;
Blessed tidings of salvation,
Peace on earth their proclamation,
Love from God to lost mankind.
See the Rivers four that gladden
With their streams the better Eden,
Planted by our Lord most dear;
Christ the Fountain, these the waters:
Drink, O Sion's sons and daughters,
Drink and find salvation here.
O that we, Thy truth confessing,
And Thy holy word possessing,
Jesu, may Thy love adore;
Unto Thee our voices raising,
Thee with all Thy ransom'd praising,
Ever and for evermore.
*From "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (by per.
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