The Presbyterian Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs

313

Come Down, O Love Divine

1.  Come down, O Love divine,
    Seek out this soul of mine
    And visit it with Your own ardor glowing;
    O Comforter, draw near,
    Within my heart appear,
    And kindle it, Your holy flame bestowing.

2.  O let it freely burn,
    Till earthly passions turn
    To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
    And let Your 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 God's grace,
    Till Love creates a place
    Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

WORDS: Bianco da Siena (d. 1434) Trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, 1867;
MUSIC: alt. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Scripture: John 14:23,26
Theme: Holy Spirit