The flowers of earth and heaven

1 This earth hath many a pleasant sweet,
Hath many beauteous flow'rs,
Which spread their tribute at our feet,
And scent the gladsome hours.
The angry thistle threatens wrath
To man from Eden driven;
But these bright flow'rs about our path
Whisper of grace and heav'n,
Whisper of grace and heav'n,
Whisper of grace and heav'n,
But these bright flow'rs about our path
Whisper of grace and heav'n.

2 They tell us of our Father's love,
Our Father's bounteous care;
And point us to that land above--
Unfading flow'rs are there,
The flow'rs of earth but bloom to die,
And lose their rich perfume;
But those sweet flow'rs beyond the sky
For evermore shall bloom.

3 O! give us, Lord, a cheerful mind,
To joy in all thy ways;
That we in every flow'r may find
Some grateful song of praise.
That as to heaven the moments flee,
Their record there to trace,
Thine own pure eyes well-pleased may see,
In us, the flow'rs of grace.


Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #117