The sower went forth sowing

The sower went forth sowing

Author: W. St. Hill Bourne
Tune: ST. BEATRICE
Published in 24 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The Sower went forth sowing,
the seed in secret slept
through 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
to harvest once again.
O praise the heavenly Sower,
who gave the fruitful seed,
and watched and watered duly,
and ripened for our need.

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.

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.
O summer land of harvest,
O fields for ever white
with souls that wear Christ’s raiment,
with crowns of golden light!

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 flameth evermore.
O holy, awful Reaper,
have mercy in the day,
thou puttest in thy sickle,
and cast us not away.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #722

Author: W. St. Hill Bourne

Bourne, William St. Hill, born in 1846, and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, and the London College of Divinity. Taking Holy Orders in 1869 he became successively Curate of Holy Trinity, Derby; Harrow-on-the-Hill; St. Paul's, St. Leonards-on-Sea; Ashford, Kent; in 1875, Vicar of Pinner, Middlesex; and in 1880, Vicar of All Saints, Haggerstone. Author of Poems in various periodicals; Church Work and the Working Classes, published in Church Bells, 1875, &c. In 1879 he became editor of The Mission Field, for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. As a hymn-writer he is known through the following hymns:— 1. Children's voices strive not vainly, Sunday School Anniversary. Written in 1868. 2. Christ, W… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The sower went forth sowing
Author: W. St. Hill Bourne
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #6432
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Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)

The Liturgy of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives #24

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CPWI Hymnal #722

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The Cyber Hymnal #6432

Include 21 pre-1979 instances
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