Scripture Verse

There came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:2–3

Introduction

portrait
Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by, in The Chris­tian Choir, by Ira D. San­key & James Mc­Gra­na­han, cir­ca 1885, num­ber 128.

Music: Lou­van Vir­gil C. Tay­lor, Cho­ral An­thems (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tay­lor (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Descend, O flame of sacred fire,
Now may we feel Thy quickening power;
To purest love each heart inspire,
And keep us in each trying hour.

Come like a rushing wind, we pray,
And let Thy presence fill this place;
Oh, take our unbelief away,
Baptize us with Thy boundless grace.

Come down from Hea­ven, O quenchless flame,
Through Christ, the ev­er­last­ing Son;
The riches of His love pro­claim,
And melt our every heart in one.