PENTECOST.

246

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7

Come, O come, Thou quickening Spirit,

God from all eternity!

Let us Thy blest grace inherit

And our souls be filled with Thee;

Then shall spirit, life, and light

Drive away our inner night.

2. Grant our hearts Thy heavenly treasure:

Wisdom, counsel, purity,

That in naught we may take pleasure

Save in that which pleaseth Thee.

Let Thy knowledge spread and grow,

Working error’s overthrow.

3. Lead us to our soul’s salvation,

Keep us in the paths of grace,

Shield us from the world’s temptation

That might foil us in the race;

When we stumble, hear our call,

Work repentance for our fall.

4. Let us trust Thy witness wholly

That we children are of God

Who rely upon Him solely

When they pass beneath the rod;

For the Father’s chastenings

Bless above all earthly things.

5. Prompt us e’er to come before Him

Joyously with hope in view;

Sigh in us when we implore Him,

Ever plead for us anew;

Then our prayer shall not be vain,

And our faith new strength shall gain.

6. If our soul for comfort languish

And despondency grow strong,

That the heart must cry in anguish:

“O my God, my God, how long!”

Comfort then the aching breast,

Grant us courage, patience, rest.

7. Mighty Spirit of reliance,

Sure Defense in all our need,

When the foe bids us defiance,

Bid Thy work in us Godspeed!

Grant us weapons for the strife

And with victory crown our life.

8. Guard, O God, our faith forever;

Let not Satan, death, or shame

Ever part us from our Savior;

Lord, our Refuge is Thy name.

Though our flesh would fain say Nay,

Be Thy Word to us still Yea.

9. And when death life’s thread is rending,

Then assure us yet the more,

As the heirs of life unending,

Of the glory there in store

Which can never be exprest,

But with which we shall be blest.

H. Held, † 1659.

247

8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 4, 8, 4, 8

O Holy Spirit, enter in,

And in our hearts Thy work begin,

Thy temple deign to make us;

Sun of the soul, Thou Light Divine,

Around and in us brightly shine,

To joy and gladness wake us.

That we To Thee

Truly living, To Thee giving

Prayer unceasing,

May in love be still increasing.

2. Give to Thy Word impressive power

That in our hearts, from this good hour,

As fire it may be glowing;

That we confess the Father, Son,

And Thee, the Spirit, Three in One,

Thy glory ever showing.

O stay And sway

Our souls ever That they never

May forsake Thee,

But by faith their refuge make Thee.

3. Thou Fountain, whence all wisdom flows

Which God on pious hearts bestows,

Grant us Thy consolation

That in our pure faith’s unity

We faithful witnesses may be

Of grace that brings salvation.

Hear us, Cheer us

By Thy teaching; Let our preaching

And our labor

Praise Thee, Lord, and bless our neighbor.

4. Left to ourselves, we shall but stray;

O lead us on the narrow way,

With wisest counsel guide us

And give us steadfastness that we

May ever faithful prove to Thee

Whatever woes betide us.

Lord, now Heal Thou

All hearts broken And betoken

Thou art near us,

Whom we trust to light and cheer us.

3. Thy heavenly strength sustain our heart

That we may act the valiant part

With Thee as our Reliance;

Be Thou our Refuge and our Shield

That we may never quit the field,

But stand in bold defiance.

Descend, Defend

From all errors And earth’s terrors;

Thy salvation

Be our constant consolation.

6. O mighty Rock, O Source of Life,

Let Thy dear Word, mid doubt and strife,

Be so within us burning

That we be faithful unto death,

In Thy pure love and holy faith,

From Thee true wisdom learning.

Thy grace And peace

On us shower; By Thy power

Christ confessing,

Let us win our Savior’s blessing.

7. O gentle Dew, from heaven now fall

With power upon the hearts of all,

Thy tender love instilling,

That heart to heart more closely bound,

In kindly deeds be fruitful found,

The law of love fulfilling;

Then, Lord, Discord

Shall not grieve Thee; We receive Thee;

Where Thou livest,

Peace and love and joy Thou givest.

8. Grant that our days, while life shall last,

In purest holiness be passed,

Be Thou our Strength forever;

Grant that our hearts henceforth be free

From sinful lust and vanity,

Which us from Thee must sever.

Keep Thou Pure now

From offenses Heart and senses.

Blessed Spirit,

Let us heavenly life inherit.

Michael Schirmer, 1640; Stanza 2 anon., c. 1660.

248

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8

Send, O God, a gentle shower,

For my heart is dry as sand;

Father, bathe Thy drooping flower,

Water Thou Thy thirsty land;

Let Thy Holy Spirit’s boon

O’er me from Thy heavenly throne

Like abundant streams be flowing,

Blessings on my heart bestowing.

2. By a human father, even

Though he is by sin defiled,

Only good gifts will be given

Unto a beloved child;

How much more dost Thou the same,

For “Good Father” is Thy name!

Thou wilt send to me Thy Spirit;

Thy good gifts I shall inherit.

3. Jesus, who for my salvation

To the Father didst ascend.

Hear my earnest supplication,

Unto me Thy Spirit send;

Let the Comforter for aye

Bide with me, my Strength and Stay,

That in faith I may not waver,

Steadfast in the truth forever.

4. Holy Ghost, Strength of the simple,

O make Thine abode with me,

Let me ever be Thy temple;

Cheerfully I welcome Thee.

Do Thou purify my heart,

Cast out all things that might part

Me from those sweet joys of heaven

Which by Thee to faith are given.

5. With Thy gifts my heart endowing,

Make it new and clean and fair;

Let in true love it be glowing,

Living in Thy grace fore’er;

Give me courage bold and good,

Sanctify my flesh and blood,

Let me, trusting in Christ’s merit,

Worship God in truth and spirit.

6. Thus myself I will deliver,

Lord, to Thee; my soul shall strive

Only after heaven forever

Until there I shall arrive

Where the Father and the Son

And Thyself in heaven’s high throne

I shall praise and all Thy treasures

In angelic, heavenly measures.

M. Kraemer, 1683; A. Crull, tr.

249

8, 8, 8, 7

Come, God, Creator, Holy Ghost,

And visit Thou the souls of men;

Fill them with graces, as Thou dost,

Thy creatures make pure again.

2. For Comforter Thy name we call,

Sweet Gift of God most high above,

A holy Unction to us all,

A living Fount, Fire, and Love.

3. Our minds enlighten and refresh,

Deep in our hearts let love burn bright;

Thou know’st the weakness of our flesh;

O strengthen us with Thy might.

4. Thou with Thy wondrous sevenfold gifts,

The Finger art of God’s right hand;

The Father’s Word Thou sendest swift

On tongues of fire to each land.

5. Drive far from us our wily foe,

Grant us Thy blessed peace within,

That in Thy footsteps we may go

And shun the dark ways of sin.

6. Teach us to know the Father well

And Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord,

That in our hearts true faith may dwell,

Spirit of both, aye adored!

7. To God the Father, God the Son,

Who from the dead is risen again,

And God the Spirit, Three in One,

Be evermore praise. Amen.

From the Latin Veni, Creator Spiritus, Martin Luther, 1524; L. W. Bacon, tr., a.

250

L. M.

Spirit of mercy, truth, and love,

O shed Thine influence from above

And still from age to age convey

The wonders of this sacred day.

2. In every clime, by every tongue,

Be God’s surpassing glory sung;

Let all the listening earth be taught

The wonders by our Savior wrought.

3. Unfailing Comfort, heavenly Guide,

Still o’er Thy holy Church preside;

Still let mankind Thy blessings prove,

Spirit of mercy, truth, and love.

Anon., 1774.

251

L. M.

O Holy Ghost, eternal God,

Blest Comfort for life’s rugged road,

With all my heart I pray to Thee;

Hear my entreaty graciously.

2. O Lord, be Thou my Comforter

Lest in my sins I might despair;

Protect me from the snares of hell,

Grant that in Jesus Christ I dwell;

3. That always I may ready be

To serve this Master faithfully

And own Him in true living faith

My Lord and Savior unto death.

4. O lead me in the narrow way

And from the fold let me not stray,

That when this mortal frame I leave,

The crown of life I may receive.

B. Helder, † 1635; A. Crull, tr.

252

7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 7, 7, 6

O enter, Lord, Thy temple,

Be Thou my spirit’s Guest,

Who gavest me, the earth-born,

A second birth more blest.

Thou in the Godhead, Lord,

Though here to dwell Thou deignest,

Forever equal reignest,

Art equally adored.

2. O enter, let me know Thee

And feel Thy power within,

The power that breaks our fetters

And rescues us from sin;

So wash and cleanse Thou me

That I may serve Thee truly

And render honor duly

With perfect heart to Thee.

3. An olive wild by nature

Thou graftedst me anew;

Death preyed upon my vitals

And claimed me as his due:

But Christ’s atoning blood,

In death true comfort granting,

Drowned death with all his vaunting,

In His baptismal flood.

4. Thou art, O Holy Spirit,

The true anointing Oil,

Through which are consecrated

Soul, body, ease, and toil

To Christ, whose guardian wings,

Where’er their lot appointed,

Protect His own anointed,

His prophets, priests, and kings.

5. ’Tis Thou, O Spirit, teachest

The soul to pray aright;

Thy songs have sweetest music,

Thy prayers have wondrous might;

Unheard they cannot fall,

They pierce the highest heaven,

Till He His help hath given

Who surely helpeth all.

6. Joy is Thy gift, O Spirit,

Thou wouldst not have us pine;

In darkest hours Thy comfort

Doth aye most brightly shine;

And oh, how oft Thy voice

Hath shed its sweetness o’er me

And opened heaven before me

And bid my heart rejoice!

7. All love is Thine, O Spirit;

Thou hatest enmity;

Thou lovest peace and friendship,

All strife wouldst have us flee;

Where wrath and discord reign,

Thy whisper inly pleadeth

And to the heart that heedeth

Brings love and light again.

8. The whole wide world, O Spirit,

Upon Thy hands doth rest;

Our wayward hearts Thou turnest

As it may seem Thee best;

Once more Thy power make known,

As Thou hast done so often,

Convert the wicked, soften

Thou all the hearts of stone.

9. O Holy Spirit, hear us

And make our sorrow cease;

Thy scattered flock restore now

To union, joy, and peace;

Bid flourish once again

The lands by men forsaken,

The churches spoiled and shaken

By war’s unhallowed train.

10. On those that rule our country,

Oh! shower Thy blessings down

And in Thy loving-kindness

Adorn, as with a crown,

With piety our youth,

With godliness our nation,

That all, to gain salvation,

May know Thy heavenly truth.

11. With holy zeal then fill us

To keep the faith still pure;

And bless our lands and houses

With wealth that may endure;

And make the Foe to flee,

Who in us with Thee striveth,

From out our heart he driveth

Whate’er delighteth Thee.

12. Grant steadfastness and courage

That bravely we contend

Against the wiles of Satan;

O Lord, Thy flock defend!

Help us to battle well,

To triumph o’er the devil,

To overcome the evil

And all the powers of hell.

13. Direct our paths in all things

According to Thy mind,

And when this life is over

And all must be resigned,

O grant us then to die

With calm and fearless spirit

And after death inherit

Eternal life on high.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653.

253

Gracious Spirit, Dove Divine,

Let Thy light within me shine;

All my guilty fears remove,

Fill me with Thy heavenly love.

2. Speak Thy pardoning grace to me,

Set the burdened sinner free;

Lead me to the Lamb of God,

Wash me in His precious blood.

3. Life and peace to me impart;

Seal salvation on my heart;

Dwell Thyself within my breast,

Earnest of eternal rest.

4. Let me never from Thee stray,

Keep me in the narrow way;

Fill my soul with joy divine;

Keep me, Lord, forever Thine.

John Stocker, 1777, a.

254

8, 6, 8, 6, 8, 8

Let songs of praises fill the sky:

Christ, our ascended Lord,

Sends down His Spirit from on high

According to His word:

All hail the day of Pentecost,

The coming of the Holy Ghost!

2. The Spirit by His heavenly breath

Creates new life within;

He quickens sinners from the death

Of trespasses and sin:

All hail the day of Pentecost,

The coming of the Holy Ghost!

3. The things of Christ the Spirit takes

And shows them unto men;

The fallen soul His temple makes;

God’s image stamps again:

All hail the day of Pentecost,

The coming of the Holy Ghost!

4. Come, Holy Spirit, from above

With Thy celestial fire;

Come and with flames of zeal and love

Our hearts and tongues inspire!

Be this our day of Pentecost,

The coming of the Holy Ghost!

Thomas Cotterill, 1819.

255

C. M.

Come, 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 formal songs,

In vain we strive to rise;

Hosannas languish on our tongues,

And our devotion dies.

4. Dear Lord, and shall we ever live

At this poor, dying rate—

Our love so cold, so faint to Thee,

And Thine to us so great?

5. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,

With all Thy quickening powers,

Come, shed abroad a Savior’s love,

And that shall kindle ours.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

256

6, 5, 6, 5

Holy Spirit, hear us

On this sacred day;

Come to us with blessing,

Come with us to stay.

2. Come as once Thou camest

To the faithful few,

Patiently awaiting

Jesus’ promise true.

3. Up to heaven ascending,

Our dear Lord has gone;

Yet His little children

Leaves He not alone.

4. To His blessed promise

Now in faith we cling.

Comforter, most holy!

Spread o’er us Thy wing.

5. Lighten Thou our darkness,

Be Thyself our Light;

Strengthen Thou our weakness,

Spirit of all might.

6. Spirit of adoption,

Make us overflow

With Thy sevenfold blessing

And in grace to grow.

7. Into Christ baptizèd

Grant that we may be,

Day and night, dear Spirit,

Perfected by Thee!

J. Mohr, 1818; C. F. Hernamann, tr.

257

7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 8

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!

Be all Thy graces now outpoured

On each believer’s mind and heart;

Thy fervent love to them impart.

Lord, by the brightness of Thy light

Thou in the faith dost men unite

Of every tongue and every nation;

We, therefore, sing with exultation:

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2. Thou holy Light, Guide Divine,

O cause the Word of Life to shine;

Teach us to know our God aright

And call Him Father with delight.

From error, Lord, our souls defend

That they on Christ alone attend,

In Him with living faith abiding,

In Him with all their might confiding.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3. Thou holy Fire, Source of rest,

Grant that, with joy and hope possest,

We always in Thy service stay

And trouble drive us not away.

Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart,

To our weak nature strength impart

That firmly here we be contending,

Through life and death to Thee ascending.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

From the Latin Veni, Sancte Spiritus; Martin Luther, 1524.

258

S. M.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Let Thy bright beams arise;

Dispel the sorrow from our minds,

The darkness from our eyes.

2. Revive our drooping faith,

Our doubts and fears remove,

And kindle in our breasts the flame

Of never-dying love.

3. Convince us of our sin,

Then lead to Jesus’ blood,

And to our wondering view reveal

The mercies of our God.

4. ’Tis Thine to cleanse the heart,

To sanctify the soul,

To pour fresh life on every part,

And new-create the whole.

5. 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.

259

Holy Ghost, with light divine

Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away,

Turn the darkness into day.

2. Let me see my Savior’s face,

Let me all His beauties trace;

Show those glorious truths to me

Which are only known to Thee.

3. Holy Ghost, with power divine

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

In Thy mercy pity me,

From sin’s bondage set me free.

4. Holy Ghost, with joy divine

Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Yield a sacred, settled peace,

Let it grow and still increase.

5. Holy Spirit, all divine,

Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down every idol-throne,

Reign supreme and reign alone.

6. See, to Thee I yield my heart,

Shed Thy life through every part;

A pure temple I would be,

Wholly dedicate to Thee.

Andrew Reed, 1817.

260

9, 9, 11, 10, 4

Now do we pray God the Holy Ghost

For the true faith which we need the most

And that He defend us when life is ending

And from exile home we shall be wending.

Lord, have mercy!

2. Shine in our hearts, O most precious Light,

That we Jesus Christ may know aright,

Clinging to our Savior, whose blood has bought us,

Who again to our true home has brought us.

Lord, have mercy!

3. Thou sweetest Love, grace on us bestow,

Set our hearts with heavenly fire aglow,

That with hearts united we love each other,

Of one mind, in peace with every brother.

Lord, have mercy!

4. Thou highest Comfort in every need!

Grant that neither shame nor death we heed,

That e’en then our courage may never fail us

When at last th’ Accuser shall assail us.

Lord, have mercy!

Martin Luther, 1524; Stanza 1, 13th century.