The United Methodist Hymnal

694

Come, Ye Thankful People Come

1.	Come, ye thankful people, come, 
	raise the song of harvest home; 
	all is safely gathered in, 
	ere the winter storms begin. 
	God our Maker doth provide 
	for our wants to be supplied; 
	come to God's own temple, come, 
	raise the song of harvest home.

2.	All the world is God's own field, 
	fruit as praise to God we yield; 
	wheat and tares together sown 
	are to joy or sorrow grown; 
	first the blade and then the ear, 
	then the full corn shall appear; 
	Lord of harvest, grant that we 
	wholesome grain and pure may be.

3.	For the Lord our God shall come,
	and shall take the harvest home; 
	from the field shall in that day 
	all offenses purge away, 
	giving angels charge at last 
	in the fire the tares to cast; 
	but the fruitful ears to store 
	in the garner evermore.

4.	Even so, Lord, quickly come,
	bring thy final harvest home; 
	gather thou thy people in, 
	free from sorrow, free from sin, 
	there, forever purified, 
	in thy presence to abide; 
	come, with all thine angels, come, 
	raise the glorious harvest home.

WORDS: Henry Alford, 1844, alt.
MUSIC: George J. Elvey, 1858
Scripture: Matthew 13:36-43 Mark 4:26-29
Theme: Christian Year: Thanksgiving Day; Harvest; Opening Hymns; Particular Times of Worship: Special Days; Providence