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, 1693

199

OU

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.

"Harriet Auber, 1828

200

COME

C.M.

NOME, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;

Kindle a flame of sacred love

In these cold hearts of ours.

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.

201

Co

Amen.

Isaac Watts, 1707, alt.

L.M.

OME, 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

SPIR

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, 1829

203

LITANIES OF THE HOLY GHOST

CO

NOME to our poor nature's night With thy blessèd inward light, Holy Ghost the Infinite,

Comforter divine.

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;
Earnest 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.

7.7.7.5

George Rawson, 1859

204

7.7.7.6

PIRIT blest, who art adored

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.