The soul that with sincere desire

Representative Text

1 The soul that with sincere desires
Seeks after Jesus’ love,
That soul the Holy Ghost inspires
With breathings from above.

2 [Not every one in like degree
The Spirit of God receives;
The Christian often cannot see
His faith, and yet believes.

3 So gentle sometimes is the flame,
That, if we take not heed,
We may unkindly quench the same,
We may, my friends, indeed.]

4 Blest God! that once in fiery tongues
Cam’st down in open view,
Come, visit every heart that longs
To entertain thee too.

5 [And though not like a mighty wind,
Nor with a rushing noise,
May we thy calmer comforts find,
And hear thy still small voice.]

6 Not for the gift of tongues we pray,
Nor power the sick to heal;
Give wisdom to direct our way,
And strength to do thy will.

7 We pray to be renewed within,
And reconciled to God;
To have our conscience washed from sin
In the Redeemer’s blood.

8 We pray to have our faith increased,
And O, celestial Dove!
We pray to be completely blessed
With that rich blessing, love.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #30

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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