Come Thou Almighty King

A classic hymn that reveals skittishness about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity in its editing over the years.  The hymn aims to invoke the presence of all aspects of the Trinity.  The verse wholly devoted to the Holy Spirit, however, is often omitted in the hymnals of certain fellowships.  (N.B.  The verse "Come Thou incarnate Word" does petition for a spirit of holiness to descend; hence, all aspects of the Trinity are covered even without the verse specifically devoted to the Holy Spirit.)  Although the song is sometimes attributed to Charles Wesley, the evidence of this is scant.  Although now most often sung to ITALIAN HYMN, song leaders should note it was early often sung to AMERICA/GOD SAVE THE KING, and this is a very pretty setting for it:  one that obliquely reminds Christians of our true fealty and allegiance.

Original lyrics:

Come, THOU almighty King,
Help us THY name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all-glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!

Come, THOU incarnate Word,
Gird on THY mighty sword,
Our prayer attend!
Come, and THY people bless,
And give THY word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend!

Come, holy Comforter,
THY sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
THOU who Almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

O Lord, our God, to THEE
The highest praises be,
     [or: To THEE, great One in Three,
          Eternal praises be!]
Hence, evermore;
THY sov’reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.

Lyrics attributed to Whitefield's Collection of Hymns, 1757 

Comments and Suggestions:

Note that some include a second verse as follows:  "Jesus, our Lord, arise,/Scatter our enemies,/and make them fall;/Let Thine almight aid/our sure defense be made,/Our souls on Thee be stayed;/Lord, hear our call."  This verse does not, however, scan well against ITALIAN HYMN (or to AMERICA) and further seems out of keeping with the more direct invocations characteristic of the other verses.  Omission is thus likely warranted in most congregational contexts but is included to the extent it might be topical under certain circumstances.

Renewal lyrics:

Come, GOD, almighty King,
Help us YOUR name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all-glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!

Come NOW incarnate Word,
Gird on YOUR mighty sword,
Our prayer WE SEND:
Come, and YOUR people bless,
And give YOUR word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend!

Come, holy Comforter,
YOUR sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
YOU WHO GOD’S WORDS IMPART,
     [or ALMIGHTY TO IMPART,]
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

O Lord, our God, to YOU
The highest praise IS DUE,
     [or: To YOU, great One in Three,
          Eternal praises be!]
Hence, evermore;
YOUR sov’reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014