Rites Cannot Change the Heart

Rites can­not change the heart

Undo the ev­il done

Or with the ut­tered name im­part

The na­ture of Thy Son.

To meet our des­per­ate want

There gushed a crim­son flood;

O from His heart’s o’er­flow­ing font

Baptize this soul with blood!

Be grace from Christ our Lord

And love from God su­preme

By the com­mun­ing Spir­it poured

In a per­pe­tu­al stream!