 | Lyrics |  |
9
SIGNS OF SUMMER.
‘And He spake to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees;
when they now shoot forth’ (‘when his branch is yet tender, and putteth
forth leaves’
—S. Matt. xxiv. 32),
‘ye see and know of your own selves that
summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come
to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand’ (‘even at the
doors’—S. Matt.).
—S. Luke xxi. 29–31.
On the fig-tree vernal
And on ‘all the trees,’
Precious fruit eternal
Faith's keen vision sees.
And on ‘all the trees,’
Precious fruit eternal
Faith's keen vision sees.
When the branch is tender,
And the budding stem;
And each shootlet slender
Shows its emerald gem;
And the budding stem;
And each shootlet slender
Shows its emerald gem;
10
Then ye know that Summer
Must be very near,
With each bright new-comer
Of the full-blown year.
Must be very near,
With each bright new-comer
Of the full-blown year.
Soon the punctual swallow,
And the turtle's voice,
On soft wings will follow,
Bidding earth rejoice;
And the turtle's voice,
On soft wings will follow,
Bidding earth rejoice;
Morns of dewy pleasure
Scatter blooms around,
Beauty without measure,
Gladness without bound.
Scatter blooms around,
Beauty without measure,
Gladness without bound.
So when every token
In the earth and sky,
Which the Lord hath spoken
Meets your watching eye;
In the earth and sky,
Which the Lord hath spoken
Meets your watching eye;
11
Then, ye may be certain,
Dawns the day of doom;
He will rend the curtain,
And His Kingdom come.
Dawns the day of doom;
He will rend the curtain,
And His Kingdom come.
Yet to saints, remember,
That decisive day
Comes, not like December,
Clad in stern array,
That decisive day
Comes, not like December,
Clad in stern array,
But in all the glory
Of a Summer-noon—
Songs and painted story
Of the flowery June.
Of a Summer-noon—
Songs and painted story
Of the flowery June.
Oh, the joy, the singing!
Oh, the fadeless blooms!
Summer-gladness bringing—
When His Kingdom comes.
Oh, the fadeless blooms!
Summer-gladness bringing—
When His Kingdom comes.
12
Now, Lord, send Thy Spirit
To my wintry breast—
Pledge I shall inherit
That celestial rest,
To my wintry breast—
Pledge I shall inherit
That celestial rest,
Those sweet songs and roses
In Thy Kingdom fair,
Where Thy Church reposes
Fanned with Summer air!
In Thy Kingdom fair,
Where Thy Church reposes
Fanned with Summer air!
| Lyrics | |