Verse 1
The word, the seed of righteousness
Sown in our hearts we gladly feel,
With joy our proffer’d Lord embrace,
With rapt’rous joy unspeakable
Receive the news of sin forgiven,
And taste in love our present heaven.
Verse 2
Yet the incorruptible seed
Doth never in a moment rise,
But buried deep, as lost and dead,
Long in our earthy hearts it lies,
Water’d, before the fruit appears,
With showers of grace, and floods of tears.
Verse 3
Howe’er our hasty nature fret,
Or instantaneous growth require,
We must, we must with patience wait,
With humble languishing desire;
And when ten thousand storms are past,
Bring forth the perfect fruit—at last.
Verse 4
Patience we need the word to keep,9
Patience in persevering prayer,
Patience to urge our way, and weep,
And wait the proper time to bear,
The season due which God ordains,
The end of all our griefs and pains.
Verse 5
Patience in doing good we need,
Patience in meekly bearing ill,
Patience till the immortal seed
Victorious o’re our sins we feel,
Patience to toil, and strive, and pray,
And fight, and suffer—to that day.