386. Come down, O Love divine

1 Come down, O Love divine,
seek now this soul of mine,
and visit it with your own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

2 Oh let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming,
and let your glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

3 Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing,
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and pride in earthly glory scorns with loathing.

4 And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far out-pass the power of human telling,
for none can guess its grace,
till we become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Text Information
First Line: Come down, O Love divine
Title: Come down, O Love divine
Author: Bianco da Siena, 13??-1434
Translator: R. F. Littledale, 1833-1890 (alt.)
Meter: 6 6 11 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 1997
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: Fire / Flame; God the Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit: Illuminator / Teacher (2 more...)
Copyright: Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: DOWN AMPNEY
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
Meter: 6 6 11 D
Key: D Major
Copyright: © Oxford University Press from The English Hymnal



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