WHEN God of old came down from heaven,

In power and wrath He came ; Before His feet the clouds were riven,

Half darkness and half flame :

But when He came the second time,

;

He came in power and love Softer than gale at morning prime Hover'd His holy Dove.

The fires, that rush'd on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,
Now gently light, a glorious crown,
On every sainted head.

And as on Israel's awe-struck ear
The voice exceeding loud,
The trump, that Angels quake to hear,
Thrill'd from the deep, dark cloud;

So, when the Spirit of our God
Came down His flock to find,

A voice from heaven was heard abroad,
A rushing, mighty wind.

It fills the Church of God; it fills
The sinful world around;

Only in stubborn hearts and wills

No place for it is found.

Come Lord, come Wisdom, Love, and Power,

Open our ears to hear;

Let us not miss the accepted hour;

Save, Lord, by love or fear.

Amen.

236.

SPIRIT of truth, Thy grace impart,
To guide our doubtful way;
Thy beams shall scatter every cloud,
And make a glorious day.

Light in Thy light O may we see,
Thy grace and mercy prove,

Revived and cheer'd and bless'd by Thee,
Spirit of peace and love!

'Tis Thine to soothe the sorrowing mind,
With guilt and fear opprest;
'Tis Thine to bid the dying live,
And give the weary rest.

Subdue the power of every sin,
Whate'er that sin may be,

That we, in singleness of heart,
May worship only Thee.

C.M.

Amen.

237.

COME, Holy Spirit, come!
Let Thy bright beams arise;

Dispel the sorrow from our minds,
The darkness from our eyes.

Convince us all of sin,

Then lead us to the Lord,

And to our wondering view reveal
The mercies of Thy Word.

S.M.

Revive our drooping faith,

Our doubts and fears remove; And kindle in our breasts the flame Of never-dying love.

Dwell Thou within our hearts,
Our minds from bondage free;

So shall we know, and praise, and love,
The Father, Son, and Thee.

Amen.

238.

PARENT of all, whose love display'd
Still rules the world Thy bounty made,
Fain would we raise the hymn to Thee,
In substance One, in person Three.

Fain would we chant to Thee the song,
Which through the ages all along
Is chanted by Thy heavenly train,
And earth resounds to heaven again.

Taught by Thy Word this festal day
Our homage of true faith we pay :
O in that faith preserve us still,
And shield us evermore from ill:

That still our lips Thy praise may show,
And with Thy holy Church below,
Above with Thy angelic host,

Sing Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

L.M.

239.

WE give immortal praise
To God the Father's love,
For all our comforts here,
And better hopes above;
He sent His own

Eternal Son,

To die for sin

That man had done.

To God the Son belongs
Immortal glory too,
Who bought us with His blood
From everlasting woe:

And now He lives,

And now He reigns,

And sees the fruit
Of all His pains.

To God the Spirit's Name
Immortal worship give,
Whose new-creating power
Makes the dead sinner live:

His work completes
The great design,
And fills the soul
With joy divine.

Almighty God! to Thee

Be endless honour done,
The undivided Three,

And the mysterious One:
Where reason fails

With all her powers,
There faith prevails

And love adores.

P.M.

240.

ROUND the Lord in glory seated,
Cherubim and Seraphim
Fill'd His temple, and repeated
Each to each the alternate hymn.

Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven,
Earth is with its fulness stored;
Unto Thee be glory given,
Holy, holy, holy Lord."

Heaven is still with glory ringing,
Earth takes up the Angels' cry,

"Holy, holy, holy," singing,

P.M.

"Lord of hosts, the Lord most High."

With His Seraph train before Him,
With His holy Church below,
Thus conspire we to adore Him,
Bid we thus our anthem flow.

"Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with its fulness stored; Unto Thee be glory given,

Holy, holy, holy Lord."

241.

WHO are these array'd in white,
Brighter than the noon-day sun?

Foremost of the sons of light,

Nearest the eternal throne ?

P.M.