1 Come to our poor nature's night,
With thy blessed inward light,
Holy Ghost, the Infinite,
Comforter Divine.
2 We are sinful - cleanse us, Lord;
Sick and fain -thy strength afford;
Lost - until by thee restored,
Comforter Divine.
3 Like the dew thy peace distil;
Guide, subdue our wayward will,
Things of Christ unfolding still,
Comforter Divine.
4 With us, for us, intercede,
And, with voiceless groanings, plead
Our unutterable need,
Comforter Divine.
5 In us Abba, Father! cry,
Earnest of the bliss on high,
Seal of immortality,
Comforter Divine.
6 Search for us the depths of God;
Upwards by the starry road,
Bear us to thy high abode,
Comforter Divine.
Amen.
Source: Trinity Hymnal #248
First Line: | Come to our poor nature's night |
Author: | George Rawson (1853) |
Meter: | 7.7.7.5 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Come to our [dark] poor nature's night. G. Rawson. [Whitsuntide.] Contributed to the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, No. 397, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines, and from thence it has passed into numerous collections. In 1876 the author included a revised text, in 8 stanzas, in his Hymns, &c, No. 46. This, however, is not in general use. Original text, New Congregational Hymn Book, No. 438. The hymn, "Come to our dark nature's night," in the 1876 edition of Hymnal Companion is a slightly altered version of the original text with the omission of stanza vii. In the American Hymns & Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874, it is given as "Holy Ghost, the Infinite."
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)