Thou, whose purpose is to kindle

Thou, whose purpose is to kindle.  D. Elton Trueblood* (1900-1994). This hymn is also known by its title, ‘Baptism by Fire’. In the Preface to The Incendiary Fellowship, dated Labor Day, 1966, Trueblood comments that it was written ‘because of the conviction that the message of this book may be expressed more succinctly in poetry than in prose.’  He writes of his admiration for the hymn ‘God of grace and God of glory’* by Harry Emerson Fosdick*, and of ‘the Biblical basis for his own hymn:  Luke 12:49, Acts 2:3, John 10:10, and Matthew 10:34.’                Baptism by Fire Thou, whose purpose is to kindle:Now ignite us with Thy fire;While the earth awaits Thy burningWith Thy passion us...