3 Plenteous of grace, come from on high,

Rich in thy sevenfold energy;
Make us eternal truth receive,
And practise all that we believe;
Give us thyself, that we may see
The Father and the Son by thee. Amen.

John Dryden, 1699

199

8.6.8.4 UR blest Redeemer, ere he breathed

His tender, last farewell,
A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed

With us to dwell.

2 He came sweet influence to impart,

A gracious, willing Guest,
While he can find one humble heart

Wherein to rest.

3 And his that gentle voice we hear,

Soft as the breath of even,
That checks each fault, that calms each

fear,

And speaks of heaven.

4 And every virtue we possess,

And every victory won, And every thought of holiness

Are his alone.

5 Spirit of purity and grace,

Our weakness, pitying, see;
O make our hearts thy dwelling-place,
And worthier thee. Amen.

200

C.M. NOME, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,

With all thy quickening powers; Kindle a flame of sacred love

In these cold hearts of ours.

COM

2 See how we grovel here below,

Fond of these earthly toys: Our souls, how heavily they go,

To reach eternal joys.

3 In vain we tune our lifeless songs,

In vain we strive to rise: Hosannas languish on our tongues,

And our devotion dies.

4 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,

With all thy quickening powers; Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours. Amen.

Isaac Watts, 1707, alt.

201

L.M. COWE NOME, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove,

With light and comfort from above; Be thou our guardian, thou our guide;

O’er every thought and step preside. 2 The light of truth to us display,

And make us know and choose thy way;
Plant holy fear in every heart,
That we from thee may ne'er depart.

3 Lead us to Christ, the living Way,

Nor let us from his precepts stray;
Lead us to holiness, the road
That we must take to dwell with God.

4 Lead us to heaven, that we may share

Fullness of joy for ever there;
Lead us to God, our final rest,
To be with him for ever blest. Amen.

Simon Browne, 1720; alt.

202

C.M. PIRIT divine, attend our prayers,

And make this house thy home; Descend with all thy gracious powers,

O come, great Spirit, come!

;

2 Come as the light; to us reveal

Our emptiness and woe,
And lead us in those paths of life

Whereon 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 dove, and spread thy wings,

The wings of peaceful love;
And let thy Church on earth become

Blest as the Church above.

5 Spirit divine, attend our prayers;

Make a lost world thy home; Descend with all thy gracious powers; O come, great Spirit, come! " Amen.

Andrew Reed, 1828

LITANIES OF THE HOLY GHOST

203

7.7.7.5 VOME to our poor nature's night

With thy blessèd inward light, Holy Ghost the Infinite,

Comforter divine.

C

2 We are sinful, cleanse us, Lord;

Sick and faint, thy strength afford;
Lost, until by thee restored,

Comforter divine.

3 Orphan are our souls and poor;

Give us from thy heavenly store
Faith, love, joy for evermore,

Comforter divine.
4 Like the dew thy peace distill;

Guide, subdue our wayward will,
Things of Christ unfolding still,

Comforter divine.

5 With us, for us, intercede,

And with voiceless groanings plead
Our unutterable need,

Comforter divine.
6 In us, "Abba, Father," cry;

Eamest of the bliss on high,
Seal of immortality,

Comforter divine.
7 Search for us the depths of God;

Upwards, by the starry road,
Bear us to thy high abode,
Comforter divine. Amen.

George Rawson, 1869

204

7.7.7.6 S PIRIT blest, who art adored

With the Father and the Word, One eternal God and Lord;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
2 Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,

Dew descending from above,
Breath of life, and fire of love;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
3 Thou by whom the Virgin bore

Him whom heaven and earth adore,
Sent our nature to restore;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
4 Thou whom Jesus, from his throne,

Gave to cheer and help his own,
That they might not be alone;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
5 Thou whose sound apostles heard,
Thou whose power their

spirit stirred, Giving them thy living Word;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
6 Thou whose grace the Church doth fill,

Showing her God's perfect will,
Making Jesus present still;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.
7 All thy sevenfold gifts bestow,

Gifts of wisdom God to know,
Gifts of strength to meet the foe;

Hear us, Holy Spirit. 8 All our evil passions kill,

Bend aright our stubborn will;
Though we grieve thee, patient still;

Hear us, Holy Spirit.