Gracious Lord, Thy Holy Spirit
Dwells within we know,
Guiding, teaching and controlling,
All the journey through;
Yet we feel how oft we grieve Him
By our own self-will,
When, if we had been but subject,
He had led us still.
Oft we’ve proved it, to our sorrow,
That the flesh within,
Loves to do its will and pleasure,
Which, alas is sin;
But thro’ grace, a mightier power
Garrisons our hearts;
He delights to honor Jesus,
And sweet joy imparts.
Well we know that He hath sealed us,
Till redemption’s day;
Well we know without His power
We could never pray;
Neither can we rightly worship,
Save as He doth lead;
Oh! for grace to be self-emptied,
Lord, for this we plead!
Baptized by the self-same Spirit,
We are not our own;
Members, Lord, of Thine own body,
Thou, the Head alone;
Thus it is our souls Thou feedest
With the bread of God;
Thus it is as thou directest,
We obey Thy word.
So, too, in God’s holy temple
Dwells that holy Guest,
Severally His gifts dividing
As He deemeth best;
Oh! to be divinely guided
In the “house of God,”
And to speak, or else be silent,
Faithful to His word.
Give us grace, then, Lord, to listen
To Thy Spirit’s voice!
Only as He works within us,
Can our souls rejoice;
Thus, Thy holy mind discerning,
Will our path be plain;
And we shall, in sweet communion,
Find Thee all our gain.