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HOLY SPIRIT SDA HYMNAL (1985)

SDAH 266: Spirit of God

Text
Text

1
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love thee as I ought to love.

2
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

3
Has thou not bid me love thee, God and King?
All, all thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek thee, and O let me find.

4
Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

5
Teach me to love thee as thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame;
the kindling of the heaven-descended Dove,
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

Hymn Info
Hymn Info


Biblical Reference
(a) John 13:34 (c) Matt 22:37 (e) Matt 3:16
 
Author
George Croly (1780-1860)
 
Year Published
1854
 
Hymn Tune
MORECAMBE
 
Metrical Number
10.10.10.10.
 
Composer
Frederick C. Atkinson (1841-1896)
 
Tune Source
1870
 

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Notes

Get to know the hymns a little deeper with the SDA Hymnal Companion. Use our song leader’s notes to engage your congregation in singing with understanding. Even better, involve kids in learning this hymn with our homeschooling materials.

Charles Rogers’ book Lyra Britannica, 1867, contained this and three more hymns by George Croly. Born August 17, 1780, in Dublin Ireland, he earned the M.A. degree from University of Dublin in 1804 and the Doctor of Laws in 1831. He entered the ministry, serving in Ireland until 1810, when he moved to London, where for 25 years he devoted his energies to writing poetry, drama, and novels. In 1835 he returned to the ministry in a united parish of two churches near Mansion House, and gained fame as a powerful, conservative preacher. In 1854 he published Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship, which had 10 psalm versions, 12 hymns, and 6 poems bearing his initial. He died while walking down the street in Holborn, London, November 24,1860.

     MORECAMBE is named after a favorite spot on Morecambee Bay, Lancashire, England, noted for the music festival held there. The composer was organist near there at the time of writing the tune. He wrote it especially for the text “Abide With Me,” and it was first printed in the 1887 Congregational Church Hymnal, London. Frederick Cook Atkinson was born August 21, 1841, at Norwich, England. As a boy, he was a choir singer at Zechariah Buck. After graduating from Cambridge in 1867, he served as organist-choirmaster at St. Luke’s Church, Manningham, Bradford; Norwich Cathedral; at St. Mary’s Church, Lewisham. He wrote songs, anthems, worship service music, hymn tunes, and piano pieces. He died at East Dereham, Norfolk, November 30, 1896. MORECAMBE is also used for SDAH 668, “O Thou Who Hearest.”

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