Verse 1
Author of faith, eternal word,
Whose Spirit breathes the active flame,
Faith, like its Finisher and Lord,
To day, as yesterday the same;
Verse 2
To thee our humble hearts aspire,
And ask the gift unspeakable:
Increase in us the kindled fire,
In us the work of faith fulfil.
Verse 3
By faith we know thee strong to save,
(Save us, a present Saviour thou!)
Whate’er we hope, by faith we have,
Future and past subsisting now.
Verse 4
To him that in thy name believes,
Eternal life with thee is given,
Into himself he all receives,
Pardon, and happiness, and heaven.
Verse 5
The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by reason’s glimm’ring ray,
With strong, commanding evidence
Their heavenly origine display.
Verse 6
Faith lends its realizing light,
The clouds disperse, the shadows fly,
Th’ invisible appears in sight,
And God is seen by mortal eye.