8s. 1 COME holy celestial Dove, To visit a sorrowful breast, My burden of guilt to remove, And bring me assurance and rest! Thou only hast power to relieve A sinner o'erwhelmed with his load, The sense of acceptance to give, And sprinkle his heart with the blood.
2 With me if of old thou hast strove, And strangely withheld from my sin, And tried, by the lure of his love, My worthless affections to win; The work of thy mercy revive, Thy uttermost mercy exert, And kindly continue to strive, And hold, till I yield thee my heart.
3 Thy call if I ever have known, And sighed from myself to get free, And groaned the unspeakable groan, And longed to be happy in thee; Fulfil the imperfect desire, Thy peace to my conscience reveal, The sense of thy favour inspire, And give me my pardon to feel.
4 If when I had put these to grief, And madly to folly returned, Thy pity hath been my relief, And lifted me up as I mourned; Most pitiful Spirit of grace, Relieve me again, and restore, My spirit in holiness raise, To fall and to suffer no more.
5 If now I lament after God, And gasp for a drop of thy love, If Jesus hath bought thee with blood, For me to receive from above; Come, heavenly Comforter, come, True witness of mercy divine, And make me thy permanent home, And seal me eternally thine!
