He breathed on them and said,
John 20:22Receive the Holy Spirit.
Words: Alfred H. Vine, The Doom of Saul 1895.
Music: Maryton H. Percy Smith, in Church Hymns with Tunes (London: 1874) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Vine (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
O breath of God, breathe on us now,
And move within us while we pray:
The Spring of our new life art Thou,
The very light of our new day.
O strangely art Thou with us, Lord,
Neither in height nor depth to seek:
In nearness shall Thy voice be heard;
Spirit to spirit Thou dost speak.
Christ is our advocate on high;
Thou art our advocate within.
O plead the truth, and make reply
To every argument of sin.
But ah, this faithless heart of mine,
The way I know, I know my guide:
Forgive me, O my Friend divine,
That I so often turn aside.
Be with me when no other friend
The mystery of my heart can share;
And be Thou known, when fears transcend,
By Thy best name of Comforter.