3 Come, Light serene, and still
Our inmost bosoms fill;
  Dwell in each breast: 
We know no dawn but thine;
Send forth thy beams divine,
On our dark souls to shine,
  And make us blest.

4 Exalt our low desires;
Extinguish passion’s fires;
  Heal every wound;
Our stubborn spirits bend;
Our icy coldness end;
Our devious steps attend,
  While heavenward bound.

     Lat.  Robert II. of France, 996.  Tr., Ray Palmer, 1858.

165 Olivet. 6s & 4s.

The Spirit of Truth. (387)

Thou! whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
  And took their flight,
Hear us, we humbly pray,
And, where the gospel’s day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
  “Let there be light!”

2 Thou! who didst come to bring,
On thy redeeming wing,
  Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind;—­
Oh! now to all mankind,
  “Let there be light!”

3 Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving holy Dove! 
  Speed forth thy flight: 
Move o’er the water’s face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And, in earth’s darkest place,
  “Let there be light!”

     John Marriott, 1813.

166 Balerma.  C.M.

Breathing after the Holy Spirit. (363)

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,
  Fond of these trifling 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 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 Savior’s love,
  And that shall kindle ours.

     Isaac Watts, 1707.

167 Balerma.  C.M.

The Source of Life and Light. (364)

Great Spirit! by whose mighty power
  All creatures live and move,
On us thy benediction shower;
  Inspire our souls with love.

2 Hail, Source of light! arise and shine;
  Darkness and doubt dispel;
Give peace and joy, for we are thine;
  In us forever dwell.

3 From death to life our spirits raise;
  Complete redemption bring;
New tongues impart to speak the praise
  Of Christ, our God and King.

4 Thine inward witness bear, unknown
  To all the world beside;
Exalting, then, we feel, and own
  Our Jesus glorified.

     Thomas Howels, 1792.

168 Arlington.  C.M.

The Descent of the Spirit. (369)