The anonymous text dates from before 1757, when it was published in a leaflet and bound into the 1757 edition of George Whitefield’s Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. The text appears to mirror the pattern of the British national anthem, “God Save the King.” Filled with names for members of the Godhead, this song exhibits a common trinitarian structure, addressing God the Father (stanza 1), God the Son (stanza 2), and God the Holy Spirit (stanza 3), concluding with a doxology to the Trinity (stanza. 4)¹. The version I have included below includes a refrain written by the worship group – a plea for the Holy Trinity to work in us.

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 prayers 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 ev’ry heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of Pow’r.

Added Refrain
Father now call, us out of our wandering.
Jesus now come, and cast out our fear.
Spirit now preach, the Son to our deafness:
Open our hearts, open our hearts.

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.

¹hymnary.org/text/come_thou_almighty_king_help_us_thy