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Home  »  The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century  »  Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871)

Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

By The Rivulet (1871). III. “Gracious Spirit”

Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871)

GRACIOUS Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would gracious be,

And with words that help and heal

Would Thy life in mine reveal;

And with actions bold and meek

Would for Christ my Saviour speak.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would truthful be;

And with wisdom kind and clear

Let Thy life in mine appear;

And with actions brotherly

Speak my Lord’s sincerity.

Tender Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would tender be;

Shut my heart up like a flower

At temptation’s darksome hour;

Open it when shines the sun,

And His love by fragrance own.

Silent Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would quiet be,

Quiet as the growing blade

Which through earth its way has made;

Silently, like morning light,

Putting mists and chills to flight.

Mighty Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would mighty be,

Mighty so as to prevail

Where unaided man must fail;

Ever by a mighty hope

Pressing on and bearing up.

Holy Spirit, dwell with me,—

I myself would holy be;

Separate from sin, I would

Choose and cherish all things good;

And whatever I can be

Give to Him who gave me Thee.