The United Methodist Hymnal

475

Come Down, O Love Divine

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

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

3.	And so the yearning strong, 
	with which the soul will long, 
	shall far outpass the power of human telling; 
	for none can guess its grace, 
	till Love create a place 
	wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

WORDS: Bianco of Siena, 15th century; Richard F. Littledale, 1867, alt.
MUSIC: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Theme: Aspiration and Resolve; Holy Spirit; Hope; Love; Presence (Holy Spirit); Sanctifiying and Perfecting Grace: Prayer, Trust, Hope