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1 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.

2 But when he came the second time,
He came in power and love;
Softer than gale at morning prime,
Hovered his holy Dove.

3 The fires that rushed on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,

Now gently light, a glorious crown, every sainted head.

On

4 Like arrows went those lightnings forth,
Winged with the sinner's doom;

But these like tongues, o'er all the earth
Proclaiming life to come.

5 And as on Israel's awe-struck ear
The voice, exceeding loud,

The trump, that angels quake to hear,
Thrilled from the deep, dark cloud,-

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

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

7 Nor doth the outward ear alone
At that high warning start;
Conscience gives back the appalling tone;
"Tis echoed in the heart.

282

C. M.
Whitsunday.

BISHOP HEBER.

1 SPIRIT of truth, on this thy day
To thee for help we cry,

To guide us through the dreary way
Of dark mortality.

2 We ask not, Lord, thy cloven flame,
Or tongues of various tone,
But long thy praises to proclaim
With fervor in our own.

3 We mourn not that prophetic skill
Is found on earth no more;
Enough for us to trace thy will
In Scripture's sacred lore.

4 We neither have nor seek the
Ill demons to control;

power

But thou, in dark temptation's hour,
Shalt chase them from the soul.

5 No heavenly harpings soothe our ear,
No mystic dreams we share;
Yet hope to feel thy comfort near,
And bless thee in our prayer.

6 When tongues shall cease, and power decay,
And knowledge empty prove,
Do thou thy trembling servants stay
With faith, with hope, with love.

283

P. M. SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS

The Holy Ghost the Comforter.

1 OUR blest Redeemer, ere he breathed
His tender, last farewell,

A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed
With us to dwell.

2 He came in tongues of living flame,
To teach, convince, subdue;
All-powerful as the wind he came,
As viewless too.

3 He came sweet influence to impart,
A gracious, willing Guest,

While he can find one humble heart
Wherein to rest.

4 And his that gentle voice we hear,
Soft as the breath of even,

That checks each fault, that calms each fear,
And speaks of heaven.

5 And every virtue we possess,
And every victory won,

And every thought of holiness,
Are his alone.

6 Spirit of purity and grace,

Our weakness, pitying, see;

O, make our hearts thy dwelling-place,
And worthier thee.

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284

L. M.

The Descent of the Spirit.

CHANDLER.

From the Breviary

1 OUR prayer is heard; the holy Dove,
Sent from the Father's breast above,
Brings down to mortal man's abode
The gifts, the promised gifts, of God.
2 And, 0, what wonders were displayed,
When he on earth his entrance made!
A blast, loud rushing through the sky,
Gave notice that the Lord was nigh.
3 And then the Holy Spirit came,
In form of fast-descending flame,
And rested on the assembled choir,
Like cloven tongues of living fire.

4 And those bright flames, thus gently shed
On each apostle's hallowed head,
Within their hearts and senses pour
A life and strength unknown before.
5 Amazed the Gentiles stand around,
And listen to the varied sound;
Each hears the gospel's glad command
In accents of his native land.

234

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1 'TWAS by an order from the Lord The ancient prophets spoke his word; His Spirit did their tongues inspire,

And warmed their hearts with heavenly fire.

2 The works and wonders which they wrought
Confirmed the messages they brought;
The prophet's pen succeeds his breath
To save the holy words from death.

3 Let the false raptures of the mind
Be lost and vanish in the wind;
Here I can fix my hope secure ;
This is thy word, and must endure.

286

C. M.

MRS. STEELE.

The Excellency of the Holy Scriptures.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word.

What endless glory shines!

Forever be thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

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