Verse 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.

Verse 2

With me if of old Thou hast strove, And strangely withheld from my sin, And tried, by the lure of Thy 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 4

If when I had put Thee 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.

Background: Come Holy Celestial Dove To Visit A