Hymnal: A Selection of Christian Hymns
Date: 1818
Compiler: Rice Haggard
Publisher/Printer: John Norvell
First Line: The church a garden is
Topic: <no topic given>
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Tune:
Hymn Number: 345
Page Number: 333, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsThe church a garden is,
In which believers stand,
Like ornamental trees
Planted by God's own hand;
His spirit waters every root,
And ev'ry branch abounds with fruit.
But other trees there are,
Which in this garden grow;
And tho' they promise fair,
Have only leaves to shew;
No fruits of grace are on them found,
They stand but cumb'rers of the ground.
The under gardner grieves,
In vain his strength he spends,
For heaps of useless leaves,
Afford him small amends.
He hears the Lord his will make known
To cut the barren fig trees down.
How difficult his post,
What pangs his bowels move,
To find his wishes cross'd,
His labours useless prove!
His last relief, his earnest pray'r,
Is "spare them, Lord, another year."
"Spare them, and let me try,
What farther means may do;
I'll fresh manure apply,
My digging I'll renew;
Who knows but yet they fruit may yield!
If not--'tis just they must be fell'd."
If, under means of grace,
No gracious fruits appear;
It is a dreadful case,
Tho' God may long forbear;
At length he'll strike the threatened blow,
And lay the barren fig tree low.