270b. Come down, O Love divine

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

2 O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy 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 o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

4 And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Text Information
First Line: Come down, O Love divine
Italian Title: Discendi, amor santo
Author: Bianco da Siena, 13??-1434
Translator: Richard Frederick Littledale, 1833-1890
Meter: 6.6.11 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 2010
Topic: General Hymns: The Holy Spirit
Tune Information
Name: DOWN AMPNEY
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
Meter: 6.6.11 D
Key: D Major



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