Dear St. Paul’s Family,
The greatest Pentecost hymn you’ve never heard of was written by Dr. Henry More, an 18th century British theologian and philosopher that one contemporary called “the most holy man he ever knew.” [1] Dr. More was a practical theologian, focusing the effects of his religious studies on implications for evangelism, missions, and pastoral ministry.
Despite his zealous study and prolific writing, history has been largely unkind to Dr. More, as his works have faded into obscurity. The exception is a few of his poems that caught the attention of a young Anglican preacher named John Wesley, who chose to include them in Hymns and Sacred Poems, the first hymn book he and his brother Charles put together for public worship in 1739. [1]
Among them is a Pentecost poem called “On the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,” which one Methodist magazine writer described in this way in 1867:
Its theme is so eminently evangelical, the treatment of it so compendious, the temper so eminently in accord with the theme, that as the dispensation of the Spirit comes to be better understood, and more fully enjoyed, it cannot be but that the Hymn must rise in estimation. [2]
Henry More’s original version had fifteen verse, but when the Wesleys were putting together their standard A Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodist in 1780, they chose only to include these last four verses. [3] (You may choose to hum these lyrics to the tune of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” or the “Old 100th” Doxology.)
On all the earth Thy Spirit shower;
The earth in righteousness renew;
Thy kingdom come, and hell’s o’erpower,
And to Thy scepter all subdue.
Like mighty winds, or torrents fierce,
Let it opposers all o’errun;
And every law of sin reverse,
That faith and love may make all one.
Yea, let Thy Spirit in every place
Its richer energy declare;
While lovely tempers, fruits of grace,
The kingdom of Thy Christ prepare.
Grant this, O holy God and true!
The ancient seers Thou didst inspire;
To us perform the promise due;
Descend, and crown us now with fire!
The hymn became a standard selection for Methodist Christians throughout the early part of the movement’s history. We can imagine Christians just like us, gathering together on Pentecost Sundays like the one forthcoming, singing this hymn and praying for the earth to receive a “Spirit shower” which will renew the earth in righteousness, overpower hell, reverse the law of sin, and make all people one.
However, here is where the story of this hymn gets really interesting. Wesley, the consummate perfectionist, did more than a bit of tinkering to Henry More’s original poem, choosing to insert two verse of his own in the original 1739 songbook:
Father! If justly still we claim
To us and ours the promise made,
To us be graciously the same,
And crown with living fire our heard.
Our claim admit, and from above
Of holiness the Spirit shower.
Of wise discernment, humble love,
And zeal and unity and power.
The reasons for Wesley’s two-stanza addendum seem self-evident. It is not enough simply to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit to shower the earth and unleash the Kingdom of God on earth. For Wesley, the Pentecostal work of the Spirit requires nothing less than our full participation. It was just as critical to Wesley that Christians stake a personal claim on the work of Pentecost, and fulfill the calling each of us receive as followers of Jesus Christ. Those last two lines summarily capture what for Wesley was to be the five-fold outcome of Pentecost for every Christian: wise discernment, humble love, zeal, unity, and power.
So, as we pray for another “Spirit Shower” this Sunday, ask yourself: How are you measuring up to those five standards?
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
Email: mdevega@sp-umc.org
[1] http://archive.org/stream/hymnsandsacredpo00wesliala#page/n3/mode/2up
[2] The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, 1867
[3] http://www.ccel.org/w/wesley/hymn/jw.html
GRADUATION THIS SUNDAY
Join us this Sunday as we celebrate one of our largest graduating senior classes in recent memory. We will celebrate their achievements and pray God’s blessing upon them as they embark on this new chapter of their lives. And in observance of Pentecost Sunday, you are invited to wear red, in recognition of the tongues of flame that descended on the earliest followers of Jesus and gave birth to the church.
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