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 Hast 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 baptism of the heaven-descended dove,
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.