1 AUTHOR of faith, eternal Word,
Whose Spirit breathes the active flame:
Faith, like its Finisher and Lord,
To-day as yesterday the same;
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.
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.
4 To him that in thy name believes
Eternal life with thee is given;
Into himself he all receives,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.
5 The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by reason's glimmering ray,
With strong, commanding evidence,
Their heavenly origin display.
6 Faith lends its realizing light,
The clouds disperse, the shadows fly;
The Invisible appears in sight,
And God is seen by mortal eye.