Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 10

The Christ of G.o.d to sorrowing hearts A gracious promise made, To send to them when He departs The Holy Spirit's aid.

II

And when the time appointed came, Lo! with a rus.h.i.+ng power, The house was filled with tongues of flame, That Pentecostal hour.

III

And souls received new power from G.o.d, And hearts with zeal were fired, When once the word of truth abroad The lives of men inspired.

IV

O Comforter, the Holy Ghost, Now, as of old, come down, And with the power of Pentecost Our drooping spirits crown.

{exagoreuso kat' emou ten anomian mou to kyrio}

I

My sin was very great, Its burden bore me down, I dared not lift my eyes to G.o.d, So much I feared his frown.

And sore my conscience smote, And all was sad within, For I had turned away from G.o.d, Who loved me in my sin.

II

I said, "I'll tell it all, The sin, the grief, the pain, Mayhap He'll pardon my offence, And take me back again."

And then my heart was glad, To think it might be done, If I but cast myself upon The merits of His Son.

III

I said, "Ah G.o.d, receive The sacrifice I bring-- A broken and a contrite heart, That is my offering; And for His sake Who came To bear the Cross of pain, Forgive the error of my life, And take me back again."

IV

'Twas then the heart of love That I had wounded sore, In loving accents spake to me, And bade me grieve no more; And spake the word of grace That made my spirit whole; And now the pain and grief are gone, For gladness fills my soul.

{en to phos to alethinon}

I

When the morn comes o'er the hills Bringing life, and light, and gladness, Scattering our night-born ills, Banis.h.i.+ng our fear and sadness; Christ of G.o.d, Thou Light of light, Banish then our inward night.

II

Ah! our spirits pine and die In the chill of night that binds us; And we cannot see Thee nigh For the dark that inly blinds us; Morning Star, in beauty s.h.i.+ne, Let us see Thy light benign.

III

On our minds Thy peace bestow, Let no cruel blast distress us, Ever onward as we go, May no crus.h.i.+ng load oppress us; Light of light, when night is near, Give Thy peace, and banish fear.

IV

When the noontide all ablaze Fills the heaven with light supernal, And we dwell with glad amaze In the bliss of the Eternal; Light that cheered my life below, Still Thy joy and peace bestow.

{hagios athanatos, to parakleton Pneuma}

I

The promise which the Saviour made When His disciples sorrowed most, That He would send to comfort them The life inspiring Holy Ghost, Found its fulfilment when they met Upon the hallowed Pentecost.

II

And ever through the linked years, From then till now the Gift is sure; And they who sorrow for their sin, Or trial's bitter pangs endure, And they who mourn, and they who weep, Find in the Gift a peace secure.

III

Vainly we mourn our absent Lord, If Thou, the Comforter be near; For it is Thine to take of His, And make us feel that He is here; We still may joy when others grieve, And hope when threatening clouds appear.

IV

Come, Holy Ghost, with us reside, Let Thy sweet presence calm our soul; And make us strong to fight and win, And all our wayward wills control; To give us comfort when we weep, And bind our hearts, and make them whole.

{didou paramythian tois doulois sou}

I

When sorrow's clouds are circling near, And minds are charged with doubt and fear; When sun nor moon nor stars of light, Break on the darkness of the night; Then, Gift of Christ desired most, Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.

II

When disappointment's pangs are sore, And wounded hearts that suffering bore, Break 'neath the burden by the way, And in their weakness, helpless pray; Then, Gift of Christ desired most, Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.

III

When like a spectre gaunt and grey Bereavement steals the heart away, And all is empty, poor, and bare, For those we loved were everywhere; Then, Gift of Christ desired most, Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.