The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley 119On the Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost
Open in the readerWhen Christ had left His flock below,
The loss His faithful flock deplored:
Him in the flesh no more they know,
And languish for their absent Lord.
Not long--for He, gone up on high
Gifts to receive, and claim His crown,
Beheld them sorrowing from His sky,
And pour'd the mighty blessing down.
He, for the presence of His flesh,
The Spirit's seven-fold gifts imparts;
And living streams their souls refresh,
And joy Divine o'erflows their hearts.
While all, in sweet devotion join'd,
Humbly to wait for God retire,
The promised grace in rushing wind
Descends, and cloven tongues of fire.
God's mighty Spirit fills the dome,
The feeble dome beneath Him shook.
Trembled the crowd to feel Him come,
Soon as the sons of thunder spoke.
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 head.
Our claim admit, and from above
Of holiness the Spirit shower,
Of wise discernment, humble love,
And zeal and unity and power.
The Spirit of convincing speech,
Of power demonstrative impart;
Such as may every conscience reach,
And sound the unbelieving heart:
The Spirit of refining fire,
Searching the inmost of the mind,
To purge all fierce and foul desire,
And kindle life more pure and kind:
The Spirit of faith, in this Thy day,
To break the power of cancell'd sin,
Tread down its strength, o'erturn its sway,
And still the conquest more than win.
The Spirit breathe of inward life,
Which in our hearts Thy laws may write:
Then grief expires, and pain and strife;
'Tis nature all, and all delight.
On all the earth Thy Spirit shower,
The earth in righteousness renew;
Thy kingdom come, and hell's o'erpower,
And to Thy sceptre all subdue.
Like mighty wind, or torrent 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.