The first thing that struck me when I was reading this hymn was the phrase "ravished breasts". It is ok to realized that your heart is often beat up and you are worn down from life. We can't hide from pain in this cursed universe. But we need not fall into utter despair because of the struggles we face in life. The Spirit is ready and willing to help us. More than that, we can hope in Him, the Spirit of God, because He is powerful and He can renovate our bruised hearts. The soul the Spirit of God renews will not collapse into ruin.
It is a gospel irony that we find healing in the "bruised wounds of our incarnate God". The world would think it strange that the God believers worship is a God who guides us to a bloody crucifix where the "sinner-train" finds a new song: "We're clean, just God, we're clean."
29 8.8.6. J. Hart
Led by the Spirit. Ezek. 37:5,9; John 16:14
1 Descend from heaven, celestial Dove,
With flames of pure seraphic love
Our ravished breasts inspire;
Fountain of joy, blest Paraclete,
Warm our cold hearts with heavenly heat,
And set our souls on fire.
2 Breathe on these bones, so dry and dead;
Thy sweetest, softest influence shed
In all our hearts abroad;
Point out the place where grace abounds;
Direct us to the bleeding wounds
Of our incarnate God.
3 Conduct, blest Guide, thy sinner-train
To Calvary, where the Lamb was slain,
And with us there abide;
Let us our loved Redeemer meet,
Weep o’er his piercèd hands and feet,
And view his wounded side.
4 [From which pure fountain if thou draw
Water to quench the fiery law,
And blood to purge our sin;
We’ll tell the Father in that day,
(And thou shalt witness what we say),
“We’re clean, just God, we’re clean.”]
5 Teach us for what to pray, and how;
And since, kind God, ’tis only thou
The throne of grace canst move,
Pray thou for us, that we, through faith,
May feel the effects of Jesus’ death,
Through faith, that works by love.
6 [Thou, with the Father and the Son,
Art that mysterious Three-in-One,
God blest for evermore!
Whom though we cannot comprehend,
Feeling thou art the sinner’s Friend,
We love thee and adore.]
It is a gospel irony that we find healing in the "bruised wounds of our incarnate God". The world would think it strange that the God believers worship is a God who guides us to a bloody crucifix where the "sinner-train" finds a new song: "We're clean, just God, we're clean."
29 8.8.6. J. Hart
Led by the Spirit. Ezek. 37:5,9; John 16:14
1 Descend from heaven, celestial Dove,
With flames of pure seraphic love
Our ravished breasts inspire;
Fountain of joy, blest Paraclete,
Warm our cold hearts with heavenly heat,
And set our souls on fire.
2 Breathe on these bones, so dry and dead;
Thy sweetest, softest influence shed
In all our hearts abroad;
Point out the place where grace abounds;
Direct us to the bleeding wounds
Of our incarnate God.
3 Conduct, blest Guide, thy sinner-train
To Calvary, where the Lamb was slain,
And with us there abide;
Let us our loved Redeemer meet,
Weep o’er his piercèd hands and feet,
And view his wounded side.
4 [From which pure fountain if thou draw
Water to quench the fiery law,
And blood to purge our sin;
We’ll tell the Father in that day,
(And thou shalt witness what we say),
“We’re clean, just God, we’re clean.”]
5 Teach us for what to pray, and how;
And since, kind God, ’tis only thou
The throne of grace canst move,
Pray thou for us, that we, through faith,
May feel the effects of Jesus’ death,
Through faith, that works by love.
6 [Thou, with the Father and the Son,
Art that mysterious Three-in-One,
God blest for evermore!
Whom though we cannot comprehend,
Feeling thou art the sinner’s Friend,
We love thee and adore.]
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