Scripture Verse

The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17

Introduction

Words: Re­gi­nald He­ber (1783–1826); pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Writ­ten and Adapt­ed to the Week­ly Ser­vice of the Church Year (Lon­don: J. Mur­ray, 1827), pag­es 76–77.

Music: Bedford Will­iam Wheale, 1729 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Wheale (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Reginald Heber (1783–1826)

Lyrics

Spirit of truth! on this Thy day
To Thee for help we cry,
To guide us through the dreary way
Of dark mortality!

We ask not, Lord! Thy cloven flame,
Or tongues of various tone;
But long Thy praises to pro­claim
With fervor in our own.

We mourn not that prophetic skill
Is found on earth no more;
Enough for us to trace Thy will
In Scripture’s sacred lore.

We neither have nor seek the pow­er
Ill demons to control;
But Thou in dark temptation’s hour
Shalt chase them from the soul.

No heavenly harpings soothe our ear,
No mystic dreams we share;
Yet hope to feel Thy comfort near,
And bless Thee in our prayer.

When tongues shall cease, and power de­cay,
And knowledge empty prove,
Do Thou Thy trembling ser­vants stay,
With faith, with hope, with love.