Day Forty-Eight

George Croly was a somewhat brusque preacher, apparently.

Appointed in 1835 as rector of St. Stephen Walbrook in London, Rev. Croly quickly became a well-known preacher in the early days of Queen Victoria’s reign. The church, which had struggled in attendance, soon became filled on Sundays as people came from miles away to hear the dynamic sermons offered by the new rector.

They weren’t coming to hear a “feel good” sermon, though. At least that’s what we learn from Irish journalist S.C. Hall, who described Croly as having “‘a sort of rude and indeed angry eloquence that would have stood him in better stead at the bar than in the pulpit." In 1847 Rev. Croly was appointed day preacher at a city hospital for foundlings and orphans, but that position quickly came to an end when the governors of the hospital complained that his style wasn’t suitable for young children.

Apparently, George Croly did not coddle from the pulpit.

But there was apparently another side to him, one that we see in our song for today, Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart. George Croly was clearly also a poet, capable of beautiful turns of phrase and tender words that revealed a tender heart. There is no “rude and angry eloquence” in the words of his only surviving hymn:

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

But this is what the Spirit of God is capable of doing—he is able to pierce our sometimes harsh, exterior shell and reveal a heart inside that is capable of great warmth and gentleness. When we fall on our face before God in surrender to the Spirit, the desires of our heart are laid bare and find expression in ways that can sometimes surprise us.

George Croly was already an author when he began his ministry as a preacher and pastor, so there are clearly natural gifts he was able to draw upon in writing this hymn. But there is something more at play in this hymn—it is both a plea for the Spirit and an example of being touched by the Spirit. As one music professor declared, “The words of this sung prayer are among the most passionate in the history of hymnody.”

Before our time of reflection, you are offered here two different versions of this well-loved hymn. One is a choral version set to the traditional hymn-tune MORECAMBE (please note—this version has four verses only). The second is a contemporary version with new music written by a group of musicians known as City Hymns.

Listen to the passionate pleas of this hymn, and as you listen…make them your own.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel vision, no op'ning skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach me to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Time of Reflection

For today’s time of reflection, we will sit prayerfully with each verse of this hymn. Take a verse and read it through slowly, perhaps more than once. Maybe even read it out loud one time. As you read, make note of which words or lines in each verse speak most powerfully to you. Before you move to the next verse, offer to God that which stood out to you and ask him to show you what it might mean for your own spiritual walk.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel vision, no op'ning skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach me to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”—Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)