Spirit of God, that moved of old

Spirit of God, that moved of old. Cecil Frances Alexander* (1818-1895). First published in Hymns for Public Worship (1852, 1855), edited by Thomas Vincent Fosbery* for the SPCK (it is possible that Fosbery, born in Ireland, had a particular interest in Irish authors: cf. Emma Toke*). It had four stanzas. Taylor (1989, p. 172) notes that it was then printed in Alexander’s Hymns Descriptive and Devotional (1858), with an additional stanza (stanza 3 in the following text; this stanza has not been much used):  Spirit of God, that moved of oldUpon the waters' darkened face,Come, when our faithless hearts are cold,And stir them with an inward grace.  Thou that art power and peace combined,All...