1 O Holy Spirit! now descend on me,
As showers of rain upon a thirsty ground,
Cause me to flourish as a spreading tree;
May all Thy precious fruits in me be found.
2 Be Thou my teacher; to my soul reveal
The breadth and depth and height of Jesus’ love;
Now on my soul Thy blest instruction seal,
Raising my thought and heart to things above.
3 Be Thou my comforter; when I’m distressed,
Oh, gently soothe my sorrows, calm my grief;
Help me to find upon my Savior’s breast,
In every hour of trial, sure relief.
4 Be Thou my guide into all truth divine,
Give me increasing knowledge of my God;
Show me the glories that in Jesus shine,
And make my heart the place of His abode.
Forsyth, Christina, daughter of Thomas Forsyth, and sister of W. Forsyth, Q.C, sometime member for Cambridge, was born in Liverpool in 1825, and died at Hastings, March 16, 1859. During a long and painful illness she composed several hymns and poems which were issued as leaflets. These were collected after her death, and published in 1861, as Hymns by C. F. (Lyra Britannica, 1867, p. 233). From this volume the following have passed into a few collections:—
1. Himself hath done it all. O how those words. Resignation.
2. Jehovah Elohim! Creator great. Names of Jehovah.
3. O Holy Spirit, now descend on me. Presence of the Holy Spirit desired.
4. O what a happy lot is mine. Union with Christ.
--John Julian, Dictionary of H… Go to person page >
TOULAN was originally an adaptation of the Genevan Psalter melody for Psalm 124 (124). In one melodic variant or another and with squared-off rhythms, the tune was used in English and Scottish psalters for various psalm texts. It was published in the United States in its four-line abridged form (cal…
Display Title: O Holy SpiritFirst Line: O Holy Spirit! now descend on meTune Title: [O Holy Spirit! now descend on me]Author: Christina ForsythDate: 1881
Display Title: O Holy SpiritFirst Line: O Holy Spirit! now descend on meTune Title: LA PORTEAuthor: Christina Forsyth, 1825-1859Meter: 10.10.10.10Source: Heart and Voice (Cincinnati: John Church, 1881)