Scripture Verse

My Lord and my God. John 20:28

Introduction

portrait
Martin Luther
1483–1546

Words: An­ti­phon by an un­known au­thor, not ear­lier than the 11th Cen­tu­ry (Ve­ni Sanc­te Spir­it­us; rep­le tu­or­um cor­da fi­de­li­um). Mar­tin Lu­ther trans­lat­ed it from La­tin to Ger­man and ad­ded orig­in­al stan­zas in Eyn En­chi­ri­di­on (Er­furt, Ger­ma­ny: 1524) (Komm heil­ig­er Geist, Her­re Gott). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Ly­ra Ger­ma­ni­ca (Lon­don & New York: George Newnes & Charles Scrib­ner’s Sons, 1855), pag­es 90–91.

Music: Das neu­ge­borne Kind­lein Mel­chi­or Vul­pi­us, Ein schön geist­lich Ge­sang­buch (Je­na, Ger­ma­ny: 1609). Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1724 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Johann S. Bach
1685–1750

Lyrics

Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord,
Be all Thy graces now outpoured
On each believer’s mind and soul;
And touch our hearts with living coal.

Thy light this day shone forth so clear,
All tongues and nations gathered near,
To learn that faith, for which we bring
Glad praise to Thee, and loudly sing.

Thou strong defense, Thou holy light,
Teach us to know our God aright,
And call Him Father from the heart;:
The Word of life and truth impart.

That we may love not doctrines strange,
Nor e’er to other teachers range,
But Jesus for our Master own
And put our trust in Him alone.

Thou sacred ardor, comfort sweet,
Help us to wait with ready feet
And willing heart at Thy command,
Nor trial fright us from Thy band.

Lord, make us ready with Thy powers,
Strengthen the flesh in weaker hours,
That as good warriors we may force
Through life and death to Thee our course.