The Cyber Hymnal ‎#5926

5926. Savior, Visit Thy Plantation

1. Savior, visit Thy plantation,
Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain!
All will come to desolation,
Unless Thou return again.

2. Keep no longer at a distance,
Shine upon us from on high;
Lest, for want of Thine assistance;
Every plant would droop and die.

3. Surely, once Thy garden flourished,
Every part looked gay and green;
Then Thy Word our spirits nourished,
Happy seasons we have seen!

4. But a drought has since succeeded,
And a sad decline we see;
Lord, Thy help is greatly needed,
Help can only come from Thee.

5. Where are those we counted leaders,
Filled with zeal, and love, and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth!

6. Some, in whom we once delighted,
We shall meet no more below;
Some, alas! we fear are blighted,
Scarce a single leaf they show.

7. Younger plants—the sight how pleasant,
Covered thick with blossoms stood;
But they cause us grief at present,
Frosts have nipped them in the bud!

8. Dearest Savior, hasten hither,
Thou canst make them bloom again;
O, permit them not to wither,
Let not all our hopes be vain!

9. Let our mutual love be fervent,
Make us prevalent in prayers;
Let each one esteemed Thy servant,
Shun the world’s bewitching snares.

10. Break the tempter’s fatal power,
Turn the stony heart to flesh;
And begin, from this good hour,
To revive Thy work afresh.

Text Information

• First Line: Savior, visit Thy plantation
• Title: Savior, Visit Thy Plantation
• Author: John Newton (1779)
• Meter: 87.87
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 51
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: In his youth Mr. Newton was employed in planting lime and lemon trees on a plantation in Africa. One day his master sneeringly said to him, Who knows but by the time these trees grow up and bear, you may go home to England, obtain the command of a ship, and return to reap the fruit of your labor? John Newton really did return, in command of a ship, and with some hope of heaven in his heart, and saw the trees he had planted grown up and bearing fruit. Sankey, p. 336

Tune Information

• Name: RATHBUN
• Composer: Ithamar Conkey (1849)
• Meter: 87.87
• Incipit: 51317 65155 63234
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain