1614–1687

Introduction

portrait

Born: Oc­to­ber 1614, Gran­tham, Lin­coln­shire, Eng­land.

Died: Sep­tem­ber 1, 1687, Cam­bridge, Eng­land.

Biography

More was edu­cat­ed at Eton and Christ’s Col­lege, Cam­bridge, where he gra­du­a­ted in 1635, and be­came a Fel­low of the Col­lege in 1639.

He de­clined va­ri­ous of­fers of high po­si­tion, and spent his time main­ly stu­dy­ing phi­lo­so­phy, and as a pri­vate tu­tor.

His po­ems, col­lect­ed and ed­it­ed by Dr. Gross­art, were in­clud­ed in the Chert­sey Wor­thies Lib­ra­ry.

Works

Poem

Upon the Resurrection of Christ

Who’s this we see from Edom come,
With bloody robes from Bosrah town?
He whom false Jews to death did doom,
And Heav’n’s fierce anger had cast down.

His righteous soul alone was fain
The wine press of God’s wrath to tread,
And all His garments to distain,
And sprinkled clothes to die blood red.

’Gainst hell and death He stoutly fought,
Who captive held Him down three days:
But straight He His own freedom wrought,
And from the dead Himself did raise.

The brazen gates of death he brake,
In triumph over sin and hell,
And made infernal kingdoms quake,
With all that in those shades do dwell.

His murdered body He resumed
Despite the grave’s close grasp and strife,
And all these regions thence perfumed
With sweetest hope of e’erlasting life.

O mighty Son of God most high,
Who conquered thus hell, death and sin,
Give us a glorious victory
Over our deadly sins to win.

Go on, and Edom still subdue,
And quite cut off his wicked race;
And raise in us Thine image true,
Which sinful Edom doth deface.

Teach us our lusts to mortify
In virtue of Thy precious death:
That while to sin all dead we lie,
Thou may infuse Thy heav’nly breath.

To righteousness our spirits raise,
And quicken us with life and love;
That we may walk here to Thy praise,
And after live in Heav’n above.

Grant we in glory may appear,
Clad with our resurrection vest,
When Thou shalt lead Thy flock most dear
Up to the mansions of the blest.

Henry More (1614–1687), alt.

Sources

Lyrics

Help Needed

If you know More’s bu­ri­al place,