See how great a flame aspires

500 Culford. 7. 7. 7. 7. D.

1 See how great a flame aspires,
   Kindled by a spark of grace!
   Jesus' love the nations fires,
   Sets the kingdoms on a blaze;
   To bring fire on earth He came,
   Kindled in some hearts it is;
   O that all might catch the flame,
   All partake the glorious bliss!

2 When He first the work begun,
   Small and feeble was His day;
   Now the word doth swiftly run,
   Now it wins its widening way;
   More and more it spreads and grows,
   Ever mighty to prevail,
   Sin's strongholds it now o'erthrows,
   Shakes the trembling gates of hell.

3 Saw ye not the cloud arise,
   Little as a human hand
   Now it spreads along the skies,
   Hangs o'er all the thirsty land;
   Lo! the promise of a shower
   Drops already from above;
   But the Lord will shortly pour
   All the Spirit of His love!
                         Charles Wesley
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
As usual for a Wesley hymn, there is another verse:

3 Sons of God, your Saviour praise!
   He the door hath opened wide;
   He hath given the word of grace,
   Jesus' word is glorified;
   Jesus, mighty to redeem,
   He alone the work hath wrought;
   Worthy is the work of Him,
   Him who spake a world from nought.

</idle musing>