Spirit of Truth, on This Thy Day

Spirit of truth! on this Thy day

To Thee for help we cry

To guide us through the drea­ry way

Of dark mor­tal­ity!

We ask not

Lord! Thy clov­en flame

Or tongues of va­ri­ous tone;

But long Thy prais­es to pro­claim

With fer­vor in our own.

We mourn not that pro­phet­ic skill

Is found on earth no more;

Enough for us to trace Thy will

In Scrip­ture’s sac­red lore.

We nei­ther have nor seek the pow­er

Ill de­mons to con­trol;

But Thou in dark temp­ta­tion’s hour

Shalt chase them from the soul.

No heav­en­ly harp­ings soothe our ear

No mys­tic dreams we share;

Yet hope to feel Thy com­fort near

And bless Thee in our pray­er.

When tongues shall cease

and pow­er de­cay

And know­ledge emp­ty prove

Do Thou Thy trem­bling serv­ants stay

With faith

with hope

with love.