God is a Spirit.
John 4:24
Words: Samuel J. Stone, Lyra Fidelium; Twelve Hymns of the Twelve Articles of the Apostle’s Creed (London: Parker, 1866), pages 32, 34 and 36.
Music: Monk William H. Monk, in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1889 (🔊 pdf nwc).
God the Spirit, we adore Thee,
In the trinal Godhead One,
One in love and power and glory
With the Father and the Son;
Prayer and praise to Thee we bring,
Our devotion’s offering.
Once the desolate world-ocean
Quickened from its long death-sleep,
Woke to light and life’s emotion
At Thy brooding o’er its deep;
Spirit, ever may Thy breath
Quicken us from sleep and death!
Holy Fount of inspiration,
By whose gift the great of old
Spake the word of revelation,
Marvelous and manifold,
Grant to us who see and hear
Reverence of eye and ear.
Priceless gift of Christ for ever,
Righteousness and peace and joy,
Which the evil world, that never
Can receive, cannot destroy,
Shall the Church or faint or fear
While the Comforter is near?
Author of our new creation,
Giver of the second birth,
May Thy ceaseless renovation
Cleanse our souls from stains of earth,
And our bodies ever be
Holy temples meet for Thee.
When we wander, Lord, direct us,
Keep us in the Master’s way,
Let Thy strong, swift sword protect us,
Warring in the evil day;
Paraclete for every need,
Come to strengthen and to lead!
Come, Thy glorious gifts providing,
Foretaste of the future now,
Bring that sweet sense of abiding
Thou canst give and only Thou,
One in Thee, we shall be one
In the Father and the Son. Amen.