XXX. Come, holy celestial Dove

1 Come, holy celestial Dove,
To visit a sorrowful breast,
My burthen of guilt to remove,
And bring me assurance and rest:
Thou only hast pow'r to relieve
A sinner o'erwhelmed with his load;
The sense of acceptance to give,
And sprinkle his heart with thy blood.

2 With me if of old thou hast strove,
And strangely with-held from my sin,
And try'd, by the lure of thy love,
My worthless affections to win:
The work of thy mercy revive;
Thy uttermost mercy exert;
And kindly continue to strive,
And hold till I yield thee my heart.

3 Thy call if I ever have known,
And sigh'd from myself to get free;
And groan'd the unspeakable groan,
And long'd to be happy in thee:
Fulfil the imperfect desire,
Thy peace to my conscience reveal,
The sense of thy favour inspire,
And give me my pardon to feel!

4 If, when I have put thee to grief,
And madly to folly return'd,
Thy pity has been my relief,
And lifted me up as I mourn'd:
Most pitiful Spirit of Grace,
Relieve me again, and restore;
My spirit in holiness raise,
To fall and to suffer no more.

5 If now I lament after God,
And gasp for a drop of thy love,
If Jesus hath bought thee with blood,
For me to receive from above:
Come, heav'nly Comforter, come,
True witness of mercy divine,
And make me thy permant home,
And seal me eternally thine!

Text Information
First Line: Come, holy celestial Dove
Language: English
Publication Date: 1788
Topic: Penitential
Tune Information
(No tune information)



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