The sower went forth sowing

Verse 1

The Sower went forth sowing, The seed in secret slept Thru' weeks of faith and patience, Till out the green blade crept; And warmed by golden sunshine, And fed by silver rain, At last the fields were whitened Ao harvest once again. O praise the heavenly Sower, Who gave the fruitful seed, And watched and watered duly, And ripened for our need.

Verse 2

Behold! the heavenly Sower Goes forth with better seed, The word of sure salvation, With feet and hands that bleed; Here in his church ’tis scattered, Our spirits are the soil; Then let an ample fruitage Repay his pain and toil. Oh, beauteous is the harvest Wherein all goodness thrives! And this the true thanksgiving, The first-fruits of our lives.

Verse 3

Within a hallowed acre He sows yet other grain, When peaceful earth receiveth The dead he died to gain; For though the growth be hidden, We know that they shall rise; Yea, even now they ripen In sunny paradise. Oh, summer land of harvest, Oh, fields forever white With souls who wear Christ’s raiment, with crowns of golden light!

Verse 4

One day the heavenly Sower Shall reap where he hath sown, And come again rejoicing, And with him bring his own; And then the fan of judgement Shall winnow from his floor The chaff into the furnace That flames forevermore. O holy, aweful Reaper, Have mercy in the day, You put us in your sickle, And cast us not away.