Ambarvalia/Burbidge/Hymn to the Holy Spirit

by Thomas Burbidge

DEVOTIONAL POEMS.

 

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I.

HYMN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

I.

Praise be Thine, Most Holy Spirit!

Honour to Thy Holy Name!
May we love it, may we fear it,
Set in everlasting fame!
Honour, honour, praise and glory,
Comforter, Inspirer, Friend,
Till these troubles transitory
End in glory without end!

II.

By Thy Hand in secret working,

Like a midnight of soft rain,
Seeds that lay in silence lurking,
Spring up green and grow amain:

Roots which in their dusty bosoms
Hid an age of golden days,
Stirring, with a cloud of blossoms
Clothe their bareness for Thy praise.

III.

We should sleep but Thou awakest;

Sometimes like a morning sun,
On the dazzled soul Thou breakest,
Heaven at once on earth begun!
Sometimes like a star appearing,
Seen and lost as earth-winds blow,
Wishing, hoping, thinking, fearing,
Thou hast saved us ere we know.

IV.

Thou dost set the mute world speaking

To the sinner in his sin;
Thou to spirits humbly seeking,
Answerest by a voice within;
Happier souls, like fruit-trees leading
Ordered branches o'er the wall,
Find in Thee the solace needing,
Shower or sunshine, Thou art all!

V.

When the proud one builds a wonder

Overshadowing the earth,
Oft his turrets, split asunder,
Cast the homeless wanderer forth:
Underneath his towers derided,
Conscience lurked, as strong as hell,
But Thine Eye the times divided,
And the spark in season fell!

VI.

As an island in a river,

Vexed with ceaseless rave and roar,
Keeps an inner silence ever
On its consecrated shore,
Flowered with flowers and green with grasses;
So the poor through Thee abide,
Every outer care that passes
Deepening more the peace inside.

VII.

Led by Thee, the loving Pastor,

Anxious night and weary day,
In the footsteps of his Master,
Seeks the sheep that run astray;

Glad to warn and glad to cherish,
With a faithful tender tongue
Cheers the weak ones near to perish,
Gently leads the ewes with young.

VIII.

When our heart is faint, Thou warmest,

Justifiest our delight,
Thou our ignorance informest,
And our wisdom shapest right;
Thou in peace dost keep, defendest
In the hour of doubt and strife;
Thou beginnest and Thou endest
All that Christians count of life!

IX.

Gracious Spirit, Spirit Holy,

Take our spirits unto Thee;
Fain we would be happy, lowly,
Make us as we fain would be!
'Tis not our own will approves us,
If we praise or if we sue,
'Tis Thine own kind Spirit moves us,
For 'tis Thine to will and do.