Ancient and Modern ‎#243

243. Come, thou Holy Spirit, come

1 Come, thou Holy Spirit, come,
and from thy celestial home
shed a ray of light divine;
come, thou Father of the poor,
come, thou source of all our store,
come, within our hearts to shine.

2 Thou of comforters the best,
thou the soul's most welcome guest,
sweet refreshment here below;
in our labour rest most sweet,
grateful coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.

3 O most blessèd Light divine,
shine within these hearts of thine,
and our inmost being fill;
where thou art not, man hath naught,
nothing good in deed or thought,
nothing free from taint of ill.

4 Heal our wounds; our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away;
bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.

5 On the faithful, who adore
and confess thee, evermore
in thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give them virtue's sure reward,
give them thy salvation, Lord,
give them joys that never end.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, thou Holy Spirit, come
• Latin Title: Veni, Sancte Spiritus
• Translator: Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
• Author: Stephen Langton (d. 1228)
• Meter: 77 77 77
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Isaiah 11:1-2
  ;
  Ezekiel 36:26-27
  ;
  2 Corinthians 4:6
• Topic: Church Year: Pentecost; Holy Spirit: as Comforter; Holy Spirit: gifts of; Holy Spirit: Invocation of; Light; Pentecost and the Work of the Holy Spirit; Renewal
• Notes: and others

Tune Information

• Name: VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS
• Composer: Samuel Webbe, the elder (1740-1816)
• Meter: 77 77 77
• Key: F Major