Harvest
4 items
Thomas Hastings·Modern
Verse 1
He that goeth forth with weeping,
Bearing precious seed in love,
Never tiring, never sleeping,
Findeth mercy from above.
Verse 2
Soft descend the dews of heaven,
Bright the rays celestial shine;
Precious fruits will thus be given
Through an influence all Divine.
Verse 3
Sow thy seed; be never weary;
Let no fears thy soul annoy;
Be the prospect ne’er so dreary,
Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy.
Verse 4
Lo! the scene of verdure brightening,
See the rising grain appear;
Look again; the fields are whitening,
For the harvest-time is near.
Thomas Hastings, “He That Goeth Forth with Weeping”
Isaac Watts·Post-Reformation
Verse 1
So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all Divine.
Verse 2
Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honors of our Saviour God;
When His salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.
Verse 3
Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love
Our inward piety approve.
Verse 4
Religion bears our spirits up,
While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on His word.
Isaac Watts, “So Let Our Lips and Lives Express”
Isaac Watts·Post-Reformation
Verse 1
So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all Divine.
Verse 2
Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honors of our Saviour God;
When His salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.
Verse 3
Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love
Our inward piety approve.
Verse 4
Religion bears our spirits up,
While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on His word.
Matthias Claudius, 1782; tr. Jane M. Campbell, 1861·Modern
Verse 1
We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.
Refrain
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.
Verse 2
He only is the Maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him,
By Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
All good gifts, etc.
Verse 3
We thank Thee, then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed-time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food:
No gifts have we to offer,
For all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.
All good gifts, etc.