Cut it Down!

Representative Text

Justice:
1 Cut it down, cut it down,
Spare not the fruitless tree!
It spreads a harmful shade around,
It spoils what else were useful ground;
No fruit for years on it I've found:
Cut it down! cut it down!

Mercy:
2 One year more, one year more,
Oh, spare the fruitless tree!
Behold its branches broad and green;
Its spreading leaves have hopeful been,
Some fruit there-on may yet be seen,
One year more! one year more!

Justice:
3 Cut it down, cut it down,
And burn the worthless tree!
For other use the souls prepare,
Some other tree will flourish there,
And in my vineyard much fruit bear,
Cut it down! cut it down!

Mercy:
4 One year more, one year more,
For mercy spare the tree!
Another year of care bestow,
On its fair form some fruit may grow,
If not — then lay the cumb'rer low,
One year more! one year more!

5 Still it stands, still it stands,
A fair, but fruitless tree!
The Master, seeking fruit there-on,
Has come — but, grieved at finding none,
Now speaks to Justice - Mercy flown —
"Cut it down! cut it down!"

Source: Sacred Songs and Solos: with standard hymns, combined: 750 pieces #399

Author: P. P. Bliss

Philip P. Bliss (b. Clearfield County, PA, 1838; d. Ashtabula, OH, 1876) left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hym… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Cut it down, cut it down
Title: Cut it Down!
Author: P. P. Bliss
Language: English
Notes: German translation: See "Hau' ihn ab, hau' ihn ab" by Ernst Gebhardt
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)
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Gospel Hymns No. 3 #17

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Gospel Hymns Nos. 1 to 6 #128

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Sacred Songs & Solos #399

Text

Sacred Songs and Solos #399

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