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1 Spirit of mercy, truth, and love,
O shed thine influence from above,
and still from age to age convey
the wonders of this sacred day.
2 In every clime, by every tongue,
be God's surpassing glory sung;
let all the listening earth be taught
the acts our great Redeemer wrought.
3 Unfailing comfort, heavenly guide,
still o'er thy holy church preside;
still let us all thy blessings prove,
Spirit of mercy, truth, and love.
Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #262
Spirit of mercy, truth, and love. [Whitsuntide.] The earliest date to which this hymn has been traced is 1774, when it appeared in the Collection published for use in the Foundling Hospital, London, where it is given as follows:—
"Spirit of mercy, truth, and love!
Shed Thy sweet influence from above,
And still from age to age convey
The wonders of this sacred day.”In ev'ry clime, by ev'ry tongue,
Be God's amazing glory sung;
Through all the list'ning earth be taught
The acts our ris'n Redeemer wrought."Unfailing Comfort! Heav'nly Guide!
Still o'er Thy favour'd church preside;
Still may mankind Thy blessings prove,
Spirit of mercy, truth, and love."
From the Foundling Collection it passed into those of Cotterill, Bickersteth, Elliott, Hall, and other compilers, both old and new. Several, who copied from R. W. Kyle's Collection, 1846, have attributed it to him. It was in print, however, before Kyle was born. Some of the slight changes in the text found in modern hymnals are from Cotterill's Selection, 1819. In the Anglican Hymn Book, 1868, it is altered to "Blest Source of mercy, truth, and love."
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)