Serendipity

While I was preparing the previous post, I checked hymnary.org, and in a rare happening, they linked to a similar, but different Wesely hymn. I thought it was superb, so I chased it down in my 1870 hymnal. Here's the version I have:

706 7th P. M. 8 lines 7s
Many, but one.

CHRIST, from whom all blessings flow,
   Perfecting the saints below,
   Hear us, who thy nature share,——
   With thy mystic body are.
   Join us, in one spirit join;
   Let us still receive of thine:
   Still for more on thee we call,
   Thou who fillest all in all.

2 Move, and actuate, and guide:
   Divers gifts to each divide:
   Placed according to thy will,
   Let us all our work fulfil:
   Never from our office move:
   Needful to each other prove:
   Let us daily growth receive,—
   More and more in Jesus live.

3 Sweetly may we all agree,
   Touch’d with softest sympathy;
   Kindly for each other care;
   Every member feel its share.
   Many are we now and one,
   We who Jesus have put on:
   Names, and sects, and parties fall:
   Thou, O Christ, art all in all.
                  Charles Wesley
                  Methodist Episcopal hymnal (1870 edition)

What is really interesting, though, is that hymnary.org has shorter verses and more of them. I think they are worth posting too, so here you go.

1 Christ, from whom all blessings flow,
   perfecting the saints below,
   hear us, who your nature share,
   who your mystic body are.

2 Join us, in one spirit join,
   grant us still your help divine;
   still for more on you we call,
   you, O Christ, fill all in all.

3 Move, and animate, and guide:
   various gifts to each divide;
   placed according to your will,
   let us all our work fulfil;

4 Freely may we all agree,
   touched with loving sympathy;
   kindly for each other care;
   every member feel its share.

5 Love, like death, has all destroyed,
   rendered all distinctions void;
   names, and sects, and parties fall;
   you, O Christ, are all in all.

So, an interesting rabbit trail. I wonder which version is correct? Or, more likely, which version was first and Wesley went back a revised it? I'm not interested enough to chase it down, but if it tickles someone else's fancy and they do research it, please post it to the comments.