The Fig Tree Near The Wayside Showed

The fig tree near the wayside showed

Author: Christopher Wordsworth
Tune: OLD MARTYRS
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The fig tree near the wayside showed
Its bright leaves from afar,
But those green leaves, which looked so fair,
Now sere and blighted are.

2 Green leaves it had, but fruit had none;
Christ came and looked for fruit;
"Let none e’er eat of thee," He said;
It withered to the root.

3 "Have faith in God"—yon city now
Shines brightly in the sun;
Christ searches it; it shows much leaf,
But fruit of faith has none.

4 Soon Christ Himself will withered seem
By that proud city’s scorn;
But Passion-tide will lead Him forth
To a bright Easter morn.

4 "Have faith in God." Be not perplexed
By Calvary’s suffering;
From that dark winter Christ revives
To an eternal spring.

5 "Have faith in God"; that city proud—
That leafy, barren tree—
Will, by the lightnings of His Word,
Withered for ever be.

6 The hypocrite and evil man
May flourish in the breeze
Of wayside earthly fame; but God
Will blight all barren trees.

7 Root us in faith, make us bear fruit
Of holiness and love;
So may we ever flourish, Lord,
In paradise above.

8 To Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Eternal glory be;
O praise and bless with songs of joy
One God, and Persons Three.

Author: Christopher Wordsworth

Christopher Wordsworth--nephew of the great lake-poet, William Wordsworth--was born in 1807. He was educated at Winchester, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., with high honours, in 1830; M.A. in 1833; D.D. in 1839. He was elected Fellow of his College in 1830, and public orator of the University in 1836; received Priest's Orders in 1835; head master of Harrow School in 1836; Canon of Westminster Abbey in 1844; Hulsean Lecturer at Cambridge in 1847-48; Vicar of Stanford-in-the-Vale, Berks, in 1850; Archdeacon of Westminster, in 1865; Bishop of Lincoln, in 1868. His writings are numerous, and some of them very valuable. Most of his works are in prose. His "Holy Year; or, Hymns for Sundays, Holidays, and other occ… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The fig tree near the wayside showed
Title: The Fig Tree Near The Wayside Showed
Author: Christopher Wordsworth
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Source: The Holy Year (London: Rivingtons: 1862)
Language: English
Notes: Alternate tunes: NEW BRITAIN from "Virginia Harmony"; NEW YORK TUNE from "The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book"; PRIÈRE D'ESPRIT by W. C. Foster
Copyright: Public Domain

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #14558
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

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The Cyber Hymnal #14558

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