Then said Jesus to them again, Peace
be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith
unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
(John
20:21-22)
COME HOLY GHOST
(Veni Creator Spiritus)
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls
inspire
,
and lighten with celestial
fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts
impart.
Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of
love.
Enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded
sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace
at home:
where thou art guide, no ill
can come.
Teach us to know the Father,
Son,
and thee, of both, to be but
One,
that through the ages all along,
this may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Cosin's translation of this powerful old hymn is the oldest translation in the
1940 Hymnal. This is well and good as the Coming of the Holy Ghost was
concurrent with the beginning of the Gospel Age. The prophecies of Isaiah of
the coming Messiah were clear that God would no longer be veiled from us as the
Most Holy was in the Temple. He would ABIDE with His people at the fulfillment
of the prophecy: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) ". . . . which being
interpreted is, God with us. " (Matt 1:23-24) Christ, being
God in a body of flesh, was with us until the ascension. But the Holy Ghost,
being the Third Person of the Godhead, has been with us ever since in His
powerful presence. He brings Love, Hope, and Liberty. “The Spirit of
God first imparts Love; He next inspires Hope, and then gives Liberty; and that
is about the last thing we have in many of our churches.” D.L.
Moody.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls
inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts
impart.
The Holy Ghost comes bearing heavenly gifts. Thomas Aquinas categorized
these gifts from the study of Isaiah 11:2-3 thusly:
1.
Wisdom,
2.
Understanding,
3
Counsel,
4.
Fortitude,
5.
Knowledge,
6.
Piety,
7.
Fear of the Lord.
The Holy Ghost is a Spirit and is therefore unrestricted in either time or
geography. It is for this reason that Christ told his disciples: "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present
with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John
14:25-26, see also 15:26-27) Herein we have a glimpse of the Personality of the
Holy Ghost. He will not speak of himself, but will teach us all things and
bring into remembrance those things we have read and studied from the Word
(which is Christ written). See how the second stanza brings this out:
Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded
sight.
The Holy Ghost is Light and Truth. He reveals Christ to us, but will not speak
of Himself. (John 16:13) We know also the Holy Ghost is a perfect
manifestation of Holy and Fiery Love. Being full of Love, He is easily offended
by those who impugn the name of the Lord. Though he knocks at the door of
the sinner's heart, he may never knock again if he is witness of egregious
blasphemy. Though He may knock often, the sound of His knocking may be filtered
out by the depraved ear, long grown callous by the rejection of God.
The Holy Ghost, like our Lord Jesus Christ, is a gentleman who intrudes not
where He is not welcome. He will not impose Himself on us. We must INVITE that
beautiful Personage to come to us: "Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire."
When invited to abide in our hearts, the Holy Ghost will give that heart light
and inspiration.
The Holy Ghost is an ever-present Guide to all who receive Him. He sets us
apart from the world and sanctifies us in a continual cleansing. He protects
and keep our feet on the Straight Way while avoiding the perilous cliff.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace
at home:
where thou art guide, no ill can
come.
The Holy Ghost cheers us in spite of whatever turmoils and dangers we face. He
was in the prison dungeon with John Bunyon, and He accompanied Archbishop
Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer to the Stake of Burning. Even then, He gave
strength, comfort, and courage. It was Cranmer who held his hand to the fire to
be consumed first due to signing an ill-conceived recantation. He spoke in the
heart of Bishop Hugh Latimer at his sentence of death to remark: 'I thank
God most heartily that He hath prolonged my life to this end, that I may in
this case glorify God by that kind of death' and later before the stake to
Nicolas Ridley - his fellow martyr: "Play the man, Master Ridley; we
shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust
shall never be put out." Can you imagine the courage of such words
spoken just minutes before being set on fire at the cruel stake!
The last two prayers of the Holy Bible appear in the last two verses of that
Book: " He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. AMEN. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.
(Rev 22:20-21) Since the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are One in purpose and in
nature, we have the whole if we have the One.
Teach us to know the Father,
Son,
and thee, of both, to be but
One,
that through the ages all along,
this may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Let us remember the Holy Ghost is our Teacher, but a teacher cannot teach if
the student does not study. He cannot bring "all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"
if we have not even taken the effort to study the lesson (Holy Bible) - not
just on Sunday, or Wednesday, but every day of every week and every year if it
has become to us its proper purpose - Our DAILY Bread!
Finally, let us bear in mind it is the Holy Ghost who, in our darkest night and
most despondent hour, offers to us Songs in the Night to En-Courage (Impart
courage) to our troubled hearts. He turns the night of sorrows in the brilliant
sunrise of the morning!
Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love.
This hymn has a living testimony and is remembered by numberless clergy who
heard this proper hymn sung at their ordination to Holy Orders.
