The Book of Praise ‎#386

386. Come down, O Love divine

1 Come down, O Love divine,
seek now this soul of mine,
and visit it with your own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

2 Oh let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming,
and let your glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

3 Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing,
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and pride in earthly glory scorns with loathing.

4 And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far out-pass the power of human telling,
for none can guess its grace,
till we become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Text Information

• First Line: Come down, O Love divine
• Title: Come down, O Love divine
• Author: Bianco da Siena, 13??-1434
• Translator: R. F. Littledale, 1833-1890 (alt.)
• Meter: 6 6 11 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  John 14:26
  ;
  John 15:26
  ;
  John 16:7
  ;
  1 Corinthians 2:9-12
  ;
  1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  ;
  1 Peter 3:4
• Topic: Fire / Flame; God the Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit: Illuminator / Teacher; Holy Spirit: Comforter; Longing for God and Christ
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: DOWN AMPNEY
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
• Meter: 6 6 11 D
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: © Oxford University Press from The English Hymnal