Religion
The Influences of the Spirit of God in the Heart
From The Works of Mrs. Anne Steele (Boston, 1808)
Dear Lord, and shall thy Spirit rest
In such a wretched heart as mine?
Unworthy dwelling! glorious guest!
Favour astonishing, divine!
When sin prevails, and gloomy fear,
And hope almost expires in night,
Lord, can thy Spirit then be here,
Great spring of comfort, life, and light?
Sure the blest Comforter is nigh,
'Tis he sustains my fainting heart;
Else would my hopes forever die,
And ev'ry cheering ray depart.
When some kind promise glads my soul,
Do I not find his healing voice
The tempest of my fears controul,
And bid my drooping pow'rs rejoice?
Whene'er to call the Saviour mine,
With ardent wish my heart aspires,
Can it be less than pow'r divine,
Which animates these strong desires?
What less than thy almighty word,
Can raise my heart from earth and dust,
And bid me cleave to thee, my Lord,
My life, my treasure, and my trust?
And when my cheerful hope can say'
I love my God, and taste his grace,
Lord, is it not thy blissful ray,
Which brings this dawn of sacred peace?
Let thy kind Spirit in my heart
Forever dwell, O God of love,
And light and heav'nly peace impart,
Sweet earnest of the joys above.
Codex Note
Text: John xiv. 16, 17.
Cite this poem
MLA
Steele, Anne. “The Influences of the Spirit of God in the Heart.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/26/.
Chicago
Steele, Anne. “The Influences of the Spirit of God in the Heart.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/26/.
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