Hymns to the Holy Spirit

445 The Promised Comforter

1 OUR blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender, last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter, bequeath'd, With us on earth to dwell.

2 He comes, the mystic heavenly Dove, With sheltering wings outspread, The holy balm of peace and love On chosen hearts to shed.

3 He comes, sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing guest, Where He can find one humble heart Wherein to make His rest.

4 And His that gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breath of eve, That checks each fault, that calms each fear, And bids us cease to grieve.

5 And every virtue we possess, And every victory won, And every thought of holiness. Are His, and His alone

6 Spirit of purity and grace, Our weakness, pitying, see:

Oh make our hearts Thy dwelling-place, Yea, make them meet for Thee.

Harriett Auber, 1829, a.

446 The Comforter

1 JESUS is gone up on high; But His promise still is here, "I will all your wants supply;

I will send the Comforter."

2 Let us now His promise plead, Let us to His throne draw nigh;

Jesus knows His people's need, Jesus hears His people's cry.

3 Send us, Lord, the Comforter, Pledge and witness of Thy love;

Dwelling with Thy people here, Leading them to joys above.

4 Till we reach the promised rest, Till Thy face unveil'd we see, Of this blessed hope possess'd.

Teach us, Lord, to live to Thee.

Thomas Kelly, 1808.

447 Work of the Holy Spirit

1 ETERNAL Spirit! we confess, And sing the wonders of Thy grace:

Thy power conveys our blessings down From God the Father and the Son.

2 Enlighten'd by Thine heavenly ray, Our shades and darkness turn to day;

Thine inward teachings make us know, Our danger and our refuge too.

3 Thy power and glory work within, And break the chains of reigning sin, Do our imperious lusts subdue, And form our wretched hearts anew.

4 The troubled conscience knows Thy voice, Thy cheering words awake our joys;

Thy words allay the stormy wind, And calm the surges of the mind.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

448

Regeneration 1 NOT all the outward forms on earth, Nor rites that God has given. Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth, Can raise a soul to heaven.

2 The sovereign will of God alone Creates us heirs of grace;

Born in the image of His Son, A new peculiar race.

3 The Spirit, like some heavenly wind, Blows on the sons of flesh;

Creates a new—a heavenly mind, And forms the man afresh.

4 Our quicken'd souls awake and rise From the long sleep of death; On heavenly things we fix our eyes, And praise employs our breath.

Isaac Watts, 1709. a

449

Pentecost 1 GREAT was the day, the joy was great, When the divine disciples met;

Whilst on their heads the Spirit came, And sat like tongues of cloven flame.

2 What gifts, what miracles He gave! And power to kill, and power to save!

Furnish'd their tongues with wondrous words, Instead of shields, and spears and swords.

3 Thus arm'd He sent the champions forth, From east to west, from south to north;

"Go, and assert your Saviour's cause;

Go, spread the mystery of His cross."

4 These weapons of the holy war, Of what almighty force they are, To make our stubborn passions bow, And lay the proudest rebel low!

5 Nations, the learned and the rude, Are by these heavenly arms subdued;

While Satan rages at his loss, And hates the doctrine of the cross.

6 Great King of Grace, my heart subdue, I would be led in triumph too, A willing captive to my Lord, And sing the victories of His word.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

450 Waiting for the Promise of the Father 1 LORD God, the Holy Ghost, In this accepted hour, As on the day of Pentecost, Descend in all Thy power.

2 We meet with one accord In one appointed place, And wait the promise of our Lord, The Spirit of all grace.

3 Like mighty rushing wind Upon the waves beneath, Move with one impulse every mind;

One soul, one feeling breathe.

4 The young, the old inspire With wisdom from above; And give us hearts and tongues of fire, To pray, and praise, and love.

5 Spirit of Light, explore And chase our gloom away, With lustre shining more and more, Unto the perfect day.

6 Spirit of Truth, be Thou In life and death our Guide:

O Spirit of Adoption, now May we be sanctified!

James Montgomery, 1819

451 The Holy Ghost is here 1 THE Holy Ghost is here, Where saints in prayer agree, As Jesu's parting gift He's near Each pleading company.

2 Not far away is He, To be by prayer brought nigh, But here in present majesty As in His courts on high.

3 He dwells within our soul, An ever welcome Guest;

He reigns with absolute control, As Monarch in the breast.

4 Our bodies are His shrine, And He th' indwelling Lord;

All hail, Thou Comforter divine, Be evermore adored!

5 Obedient to Thy will, We wait to feel Thy power, O Lord of life, our hopes fulfil, And bless this hallow'd hour.

Charles H. Spurgeon, 1866.

452 A Prayer for His Operations 1 ENTHRONED on high. Almighty Lord, The Holy Ghost send down:

Fulfil in us Thy faithful word, And all Thy mercies crown.

2 Though on our heads no tongues of fire Their wondrous powers impart, Grant, Saviour, what we more desire, Thy Spirit in our heart.

3 Spirit of life, and light, and love, Thy heavenly influence give:

Quicken our souls, born from above, In Christ that we may live.

4 To our benighted minds reveal The glories of His grace; And bring us where no clouds conceal The brightness of His face.

5 His love within us shed abroad, Life's ever-springing well;

Till God in us, and we in God, In love eternal dwell.

Thomas Haweis, 1792

453 The Holy Spirit invoked 1 COME, Holy Spirit, come! With energy divine; And on this poor benighted soul With beams of mercy shine.

2 From the celestial hills, Life, light, and joy dispense; And may I daily, hourly feel Thy quickening influence.

3 Melt, melt this frozen heart; This stubborn will subdue;

Bach evil passion overcome, And form me all anew.

4 Mine will the profit be, But Thine shall be the praise; And unto Thee I will devote The remnant of my days.

Benjamin Beddome, 1818

454 The Holy Spirit

1 COME, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quickening powers, Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours.

2 Look how we grovel here below, Pond of these trifling toys; Our souls can neither fly nor go, To reach eternal joys.

3 In vain we tune our formal songs, In vain we strive to rise;

Hosannahs languish on our tongues, And our devotion dies.

4 Dear Lord! and shall we ever lie At this poor dying rate? Our love so faint, so cold to Thee, And Thine to us so great?

5 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quickening powers, Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours.

Isaac Watts, 1709

455 Come, Holy Ghost

1 COME, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire:

Let us Thine influence prove, Source of the old prophetic fire, Fountain of light and love.

2 Come, Holy Ghost (for moved by Thee The prophets wrote and spoke), Unlock the truth, Thyself the key, Unseal the sacred book.

3 Expand Thy wings, celestial Dove, Brood o'er our nature's night; On our disorder'd spirits move, And let there now be light.

4 God through Himself we then shall know If Thou within us shine; And sound, with all Thy saints below, The depths of love divine.

Charles Wesley, 1740.

456 His Indwelling sought

1 COME, Holy Spirit, come, Let Thy bright beams arise, Dispel the darkness from our minds, And open all our eyes.

2 Cheer our desponding hearts, Thou heavenly Paraclete;

Give us to lie, with humble hope, At our Redeemer's feet.

3 'Tis Thine to cleanse the heart, To sanctify the soul, To pour fresh life on every part, And new create the whole.

4 Dwell, therefore, in our hearts, Our minds from bondage free;

Then shall we know and praise and love The Father, Son, and Thee.

Joseph Hart, 1759.

457 Spiritual Power desired.

1 COME, dearest Lord, descend and dwell By faith and love in every breast;

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel The joys that cannot be express'd.

2 Come fill our hearts with inward strength, Make our enlarged souls possess, And learn the height, and breadth, and length Of Thine unmeasurable grace.

3 Now to the God whose power can do More than our thoughts or wishes know, Be everlasting honours done By all the church, through Christ His Son.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

458

Love longed for

1 DESCEND, immortal Dove;

Spread Thy kind wings abroad: And wrapt in flames of holy love, Bear all my soul to God.

2 Jesus, my Lord, reveal In charms of grace divine, And be Thyself the sacred seal, That pearl of price is mine.

3 Behold my heart expands To catch the heavenly fire:

It longs to feel the gentle bands, And groans with strong desire.

4 Thy love, my God, appears And brings salvation down, My cordial through this vale of tears, In paradise my crown.

Philip Doddridge, 1755

459 The Spirit's Work requested

1 HOLY Spirit, from on high, Bend on us a pitying eye;

Animate the drooping heart, Bid the power of sin depart.

2 Light up every dark recess Of our heart's ungodliness;

Show us every devious way, Where our steps have gone astray.

3 Teach us with repentant grief Humbly to Implore relief, Then the Saviour's blood reveal All our deep disease to heal.

4 Other groundwork should we lay, Sweep those empty hopes away;

Make us feel that Christ alone Can for human guilt atone.

5 May we daily grow in grace, And pursue the heavenly race, Train'd in wisdom, led by love, Till we reach our rest above.

William Hiley Bathurst, 1831

460 His operations invited

1 HOLY Ghost, with light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away, Turn the darkness into day.

2 Holy Ghost, with power divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

Long has sin without control Held dominion o'er my soul.

3 Holy Ghost, with joy divine.

Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Bid my many woes depart, Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

4 Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down every idol throne;

Reign supreme, and reign alone.

Andrew Heed, 1817.

461 Nature helpless—the Spirit working

1 HOW helpless guilty nature lies, Unconscious of its load! The heart, unchanged, can never rise To happiness and God.

2 Can aught beneath a power divine The stubborn will subdue?

'Tis Thine, Eternal Spirit, Thine To form the heart anew.

3 'Tis thine the passions to recall, And upwards bid them rise; And make the scales of error fall From reason's darken'd eyes.

4 To chase the shades of death away, And bid the sinner live! A beam of heaven, a vital ray, 'Tis Thine alone to give.

5 Oh change these wretched hearts of ours, And give them life divine!

Then shall our passions and our powers, Almighty Lord, be Thine.

Anne Steele, 1760.

462

Comforter

1 HOLY Ghost, dispel our sadness, Pierce the clouds of sinful night;

Come, thou source of sweetest gladness, Breathe Thy life, and spread Thy light!

2 Author of the new creation, Come, with unction and with power;

Hake our hearts Thy habitation, On our souls Thy graces shower.

Paul Gerhardt, 1683;

J. C. Jacobi, 1725;

Augustus M. Toplady, 1770

463 Divine Drawings implored

1 IF Thou hast drawn a thousand times, Oh draw me, Lord, again;

Around me cast Thy Spirit's bands, And all my powers constrain.

2 Draw me from all created good, From self, the world, and sin, To the dear fountain of Thy blood, And make me pure within.

3 Oh lead me to Thy mercy-seat;

Attract me nearer still;

Draw me, like Mary, to Thy feet, To sit and learn Thy will.

4 Oh draw me all the desert through With cords of heavenly love, And when prepared for going hence, Draw me to dwell above.

Beddome and Rippon, 1800. a

464 The Holy Spirit invoked.

1 SPIRIT divine! attend our prayers, And make this house Thy home;

Descend with all Thy gracious powers, Oh come, Great Spirit, come!

2 Come as the light—to us reveal Our emptiness and woe: And lead us in those paths of life Where all the righteous go.

3 Come as the fire—and purge our hearts, Like sacrificial flame;

Let our whole soul an offering be To our Redeemer's name.

4 Come as the dew—and sweetly bless This consecrated hour; May barrenness rejoice to own Thy fertilising power.

5 Come as the dove—and spread Thy wings, The wings of peaceful love; And let Thy church on earth become Blest as the church above.

6 Come as the wind—with rushing sound And Pentecostal grace; That all of woman born may see The glory of Thy face.

7 Spirit divine! attend our prayers, Make a lost world Thy home;

Descend with all Thy gracious powers!

Oh come, Great Spirit, come.

Andrew Reed, 1842.

465 His Operations sought

1 SPIRIT of Truth. Thy grace impart, To guide our doubtful way;

Thy beams shall scatter every cloud, And make a glorious day.

2 Light in Thy light, oh may we see, Thy grace and mercy prove, Revived, and cheer'd, and bless'd by Thee, Spirit of peace and love!

3 'Tis Thine to soothe the sorrowing mind, With guilt and fear oppress'd;

'Tis Thine to bid the dying live, And give the weary rest.

4 Subdue the power of every sin, Whate'er that sin may be, That we, in singleness of heart, May worship only Thee.

Thomas Cotterill, 1812, a.

466 The Spirit entreated not to depart

1 STAY, Thou insulted spirit, stay, Though I have done Thee such despite, Cast not a sinner quite away, Nor take Thine everlasting flight.

2 Though I have most unfaithful been, Of all whoe'er Thy grace received, Ten thousand times Thy goodness seen, Ten thousand times Thy goodness grieved;

3 Yet, oh! the chief of sinners spare, In honour of my great High Priest; Nor in Thy righteous anger swear T' exclude me from Thy people's rest.

4 Now, Lord, my weary soul release Upraise me by Thy gracious hand;

Guide me into Thy perfect peace, And bring me to the promised land.

Charles Wesley, 1749, a

467 Peace prayed for

1 CALMER of my troubled heart, Bid my unbelief depart;

Speak, and all my sorrows cease;

Speak, and all my soul is peace.

2 Comfort me, whene'er I mourn, With the hope of Thy return;

And, till I Thy glory see, Help me to believe in Thee.

Charles Wesley, 1762.

468 Divine Sealing and Witnessing sought

1 WHY should the children of a Ring Go mourning all their days?

Great Comforter, descend and bring Some tokens of Thy grace.

2 Dost Thou not dwell in all the saints, And seal the heirs of heaven? When wilt Thou banish my complaints, And show my sins forgiven?

3 Assure my conscience of her part In the Redeemer's blood, And bear Thy witness with my heart, That I am born of God.

4 Thou art the earnest of His love, The pledge of joys to come, And Thy soft wings, celestial Dove, Will safe convey me home.

Isaac Watts, 1709.