Hymns of the English Church

Father of Everlasting Grace

A hymn to God asking him to send his Holy Spirit on us, and make us fit to sing with the choir of saints in heaven.

Back to text

Father of Everlasting Grace

© Sri Teja P, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source

A shy dove in Hyderabad, India.

X

No further information.

Back to text

A shy dove in Hyderabad, India.

Enlarge
© Sri Teja P, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Introduction

St John tells us that Jesus Christ promised to pray to the Father, and ask him to send his Holy Spirit on the Church after Christ had gone up to his heavenly kingdom. Remembering this promise, Charles Wesley appeals to God to renew his gift daily.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

John 15:26

Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and thy truth we prove:
Thy goodness and thy truth we praise,
Thou hast, in honour of thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power, and love.

Send us the Spirit of thy Son,
To make the depths of Godhead known,
To make us share the life divine;
Send him the sprinkled blood t’ apply,
Send him our souls to sanctify,
And show and seal us ever thine.

So shall we pray, and never cease;
So shall we thankfully confess
Thy wisdom, truth, and power, and love
With joy unspeakable adore,
And bless and praise thee evermore,
And serve thee as thy hosts above:

Till, added to that heavenly choir,
We raise our songs of triumph higher,
And praise thee in a bolder strain,
Out-soar the first-born seraph’s flight,
And sing, with all our friends in light,
Thy everlasting love to man.