James Montgomery

The Field of the World.

Sow in the morn thy seed,

At eve hold not thine hand;

To doubt and fear, give thou no heed,

Broad-cast it o'er the land.

Beside all waters sow,

The highway furrows stock,

Drop it where thorns and thistles grow,

Scatter it on the rock.

The good, the fruitful ground,

Expect not here nor there,

O'er hill and dale, by plots 'tis found;

Go forth, then, every where,

Thou know'st not which may thrive

The late or early sown;

Grace keeps the precious germs alive,

When and wherever strown.

And duly shall appear,

In verdure, beauty, strength,

The tender blade, the stalk, the ear,

And the full corn at length.

Thou canst not toil in vain;

Cold, heat, and moist, and dry,

Shall foster and mature the grain

For garners in the sky.

Thence, when the glorious end,

The day of God is come,

The angel-reapers shall descend,

And heaven cry "Harvest home!"