My Lord and my God.
John 20:28
Words: Antiphon by an unknown author, not earlier than the 11th Century (Veni Sancte Spiritus; reple tuorum corda fidelium). Martin Luther translated it from Latin to German and added original stanzas in Eyn Enchiridion (Erfurt, Germany: 1524) (Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott). Translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica (London & New York: George Newnes & Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1855), pages 90–91.
Music: Das neugeborne Kindlein Melchior Vulpius, Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch (Jena, Germany: 1609). Harmony by Johann S. Bach, 1724 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord,
Be all Thy graces now outpoured
On each believer’s mind and soul;
And touch our hearts with living coal.
Thy light this day shone forth so clear,
All tongues and nations gathered near,
To learn that faith, for which we bring
Glad praise to Thee, and loudly sing.
Thou strong defense, Thou holy light,
Teach us to know our God aright,
And call Him Father from the heart:
The Word of life and truth impart.
That we may love not doctrines strange,
Nor e’er to other teachers range,
But Jesus for our master own
And put our trust in Him alone.
Thou sacred ardor, comfort sweet,
Help us to wait with ready feet
And willing heart at Thy command,
Nor trial fright us from Thy band.
Lord, make us ready with Thy powers,
Strengthen the flesh in weaker hours,
That as good warriors we may force
Through life and death to Thee our course.