When Christ His body up had borne. H. More. [Whitsuntide.] This is the opening line of a hymn in 14 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled “An Hymn upon the Descent of the Holy Ghost at the Day of Pentecost," which appeared in More's Divine Hymns appended to his Divine Dialogues, &c, London 1668. This hymn was rewritten in 15 stanzas by J. Wesley, and included in the Wesley Hymns and Sacred Poem, 1739, beginning "When Christ had left his flock below." From this revision, stanzas vi.-xv., slightly altered, were given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, as, "Father, if justly still we claim" (No. 444); and "On all the earth Thy Spirit shower" (No. 445). These hymns have been repeated in many collections in Great Britain and America. Wesley's full revised text is in the Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. i. p. 165. The first stanza of "Father, if justly still we claim" is by J. Wesley (1739). Dr. More's original text of the remaining stanzas of the two hymns is:—
vi. "The Spirit of holy Zeal and Love
And of Diƒcerning give us, Lord;
The Spirit of Power from above,
Of Unity and good Accord:
vii. "The Spirit of convincing Speach,
Such as will every Conƒcience fmite,
And to the heart of each man reach,
And sin and Errour put to flight:
viii. "The Spirit of refining Fire,
Searching the inmoƒt of the mind,
To purge all foul and fell desire,
And kindle Life more pure and kinde.
ix. "The Spirit of Faith in this thy Day
Of Power againƒt the force of Sin,
That through this Faith we ever may
Against our Luƒts the Conqueƒts win.
x. "Pour down thy Spirit of inward Life,
Which in our hearts thy laws may write,
That without any pain or ƒtrife
We naturally may doe what's right,
xi. "On all the Earth thy Spirit pour,
In righteousness it to renew:
That Satan's Kingdome 't may o'repow'r,
And to Christ's Sceptre all ƒubdue.
xii. "Like mighty Winde or Torrent fierce
Let it Withƒlanders all o'rerun,
And every wicked law reverƒe,
That Faith and Love may make all one.
xiii. "Let Peace and Joy in each place ƒpring,
And Righteouƒneƒs, the Spirits fruits,
With Meekneƒs, Friendƒhip, and each thing
That with the Christian ƒpirit ƒuits.
xiv. "Grant this, 0 holy God and true,
Who th' ancient Prophets didƒt inƒpire:
Haƒte to perform thy Promiƒe due,
As all thy Servants thee deƒire."
A comparison of Wesley's version with this original shows most forcibly how a well conceived but indifferently executed composition may be turned to good account by an experienced hand. The rest of More's hymns, six in all, are worthy of attention.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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