For the Spirit's Influences

Representative Text

1 Come, thou soul-transforming Spirit,
Bless the sower and the seed;
Let each heart thy grace inherit;
Raise the weak, the hungry feed!
From the gospel
Now supply thy people's need.

2 Oh, may all enjoy the blessing
Which thy word's designed to give;
Let us all, thy love possessing,
Joyfully the truth receive;
And for ever
To thy praise and glory live.

Source: Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs, ancient and modern for use in the prayer-meeting #58

Author: Jonathan Evans

Evans, Jonathan, born at Coventry in 1748 or 1749. He was the son of a working man, and as a youth was employed in a ribbon manufactory. About 1778 he joined the congregation at Coventry, over which the Rev. G. Burder was pastor. He began preaching at Foleshill, near Coventry, in 1782, and in 1795 he began his stated ministry there, retaining the same to his death on Aug. 31, 1809. Two biographical notices of him appeared in the Evangelical Magazine (Oct. 1809, and March 1847), and also several of his hymns. Two of his hymns appeared in Burder's Collection, 1784, and another in the 2nd edition the same year. His best known hymns are, "Come, Thou soul-transforming Spirit,” and "Hark! the voice of love and mercy;" q.v. He published no poeti… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Come, thou soul transforming Spirit
Title: For the Spirit's Influences
Author: Jonathan Evans
Meter: 8.7.8.7.4.7
Source: Rippon's Collection
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Come, Thou soul-transforming Spirit. J. Evans. [Before Sermon.] This hymn was contributed to G. Burder's Collection of Hymns from Various Authors, 1784, No. 13, in 2 stanzas of 6 lines, and entitled, "Imploring the aid of the Spirit." In modern hymnals it is found in three forms as follows:—
1. The original. This was reprinted from Border, by W. Jay, of Bath, in his Selection, 1797, No. 220, but without signature. From Jay it passed into other hymnals, with the addition of "Jay" as tbe author, as in the American Methodist Episcopal Hymn Book, 1849. The original text is also in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872.
2. In the Williams and Boden Collection, 1801, the hymn was given in an altered form, and with the addition of the stanza, "Then, whene'er the signal's given," from "Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing." In Kemble's New Church Hymn Book, 1873, this is repeated with further alterations, and the omission of the added stanza.
3. In Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, No. 382, is the original with the addition of two stanzas from "Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing." This cento has almost died out of use.
Although these three forms of the hymn exist, most modern editors are falling back upon the original, especially in America, where its popularity is greater than in Great Britain.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

GREENVILLE (Rousseau)


REGENT SQUARE (Smart)

Henry T. Smart (PHH 233) composed REGENT SQUARE for the Horatius Bonar (PHH 260) doxology "Glory be to God the Father." The tune was first published in the English Presbyterian Church's Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (1867), of which Smart was music editor. Because the text editor of that hymna…

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ZION (Hastings)


Timeline

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The Cyber Hymnal #975

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