Hymn History-Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove

  • Shelly Webb
  • July 21, 2011
  • 2202
                        
Hymn History Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove Come, gracious Spirit, heav?nly Dove, With light and comfort from above; Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide, O?er every thought and step preside, O?er every thought and step preside. The light of truth to us display, And make us know and choose Thy way; Plant holy fear in every heart, That we from God may ne?er depart, That we from God may ne?er depart. Lead us to holiness, the road Which we must take to dwell with God; Lead us to Christ, the living way, Nor let us from His pastures stray, Nor let us from His pastures stray. Lead us to God, our final rest, To be with Him forever blest; Lead us to Heav?n, its bliss to share, Fullness of joy forever there, Fullness of joy forever there. Simon Browne (1680-1732) Hymn writer Simon Browne was much better at putting things on paper than trying to express them verbally. He was very talented and wrote an English dictionary, a commentary of Matthew Henry after the great scholar died and also authored many beautiful hymns. Throughout his life however he did struggle with one painful memory. When Browne was forty-years-old he was attacked by a highway man and in self-defense, Browne accidentally killed him. Even though he was defending his life, Browne suffered enormous guilt from this act and never felt forgiven. He wrote this hymn seeking the comfort and assurance he needed from the Holy Spirit to find peace in his heart. No one is certain if Browne ever truly found that peace, but we are certain that even if he could not forgive himself, God was more than able to forgive him.


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