The Apple Tree

Some have written to ask for the lyric of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, of which I posted a video a little while ago. Here it is, with my thanks for your wanting it. The words are by the great Anonymous, as collected by Joshua Smith of New Hampshire around 1784. The music is by Elizabeth Poston, a marvelous contemporary English composer.

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of Nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ, the apple tree. 

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ, the apple tree. 

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought;
I missed of all, but now I see,
’Tis found in Christ, the apple tree.

I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

If I could have written this lyric, I would count myself thrice-blessed: once by living it, once by recognizing that living, and once by putting it into words.

Merry fourth day of Christmas!