HARVEST HYMN, 



liriUen bij Jllonzo Lewis, Eaq., and sung at the Ahmuil Meeting of tfic. 

 Society, 1836. 



When nature slept in dark repose, 



And naught was seen, or felt or known,. 

 In mig-ht the great Creator rose, 



And light and love through chaos shone. 

 Then earth was formed in beauty fair, 



And verdure clothed each fertile mound, 

 But all was wild and useless there, 



And not a man to till the ground. 



Wlien all things slept 

 in chaos, there was iio 

 vegetaiioii ; and after it 

 »vas I'nrmed, it was un- 

 cultivated and useless. 



'Twas then the first of human race 

 From his primeval silence sprang ; 



He stood in majesty and grace, 

 When morning stars together sang. 



Man received a com- 

 mand from God to con- 

 tinue the work he had ^ . , ,, ,,, , ., 



b(!gun, — by tilling the Go — said the Word — my purpose aid, 



earth, — that it might ,^, . ,, , . , , , 



yield its award. Thme all the realms beneath the sun; 



Iij obedience to that 

 command, man cultivates 

 the earlh, renders it pro- 

 ductive, and even produ- 

 ces new varieties of fruit. 



Thn wilderness being 

 dnbdued and converted 

 i ito fielils and gardens, 

 for the support of man, 

 ■ hows that the divine 

 command in fulttlled, — 

 which furnishes a theme 

 for gratitude. 



For thee each plant, each fruit was made ; 

 Complete the plan by me begun. 



Man heard — obeyed — and lo, the earth, 



Beneath his hand new beauty wears . 

 Each plant assumes a second birth, 



Each tree a greener foliage bears. 

 As if to him Creative power 



From God's productive hand were given, 

 New fruits are fonned with varied flower, 



And richer beauty blooms to heaven ! 



Where once a desert forest lay, 



Fair fields and graceful gardens shine ; 

 The conquered wastes their tribute pay. 



And thus fulfil the will divine. 

 Then let our hearts, like fertile soil. 



To heaven their fruit in season send, 

 To Him who bade the Farmer toil, 



To Him who is the Farmer's friend. 



