November 20

Did not I see thee in the garden with him?” John 18: 26.

While within my garden roving,

And my senses all are fed,
Rising from these loved attractions,

I ‘m to nobler subjects led:
Other gardens

Here, in musings, oft I tread.

First I enter Eden’s garden,

Yielding pain and profit too;
Adam here, while sinless standing,

Naught of fear or sorrow knew:
But what changes

Did from his offence ensue!

Then, with hope and joy reviving,

To Gethsemane I go;
And approach, in that dread garden,

Jesus, bearing all my woe:
From his anguish

All my ease and safety flow.

In the garden where they laid him,

With the Marys there I sit,
Weeping, till I see him rising,

And embrace his pierced feet:
King of terrors,

Now I can thy frownings meet.

In the church, the Saviour’s garden,
Trees and plants and flowers I see,

Guarded, watered, trained, and cherished,
Blooming immortality;

All transplanted
From thy soil, 0 Calvary.

But above all gardens precious,

See the heavenly paradise:
There the tree of life is bearing;

There the springs of glory rise;
And the richness

Every want and wish supplies.

There the foot no thorn e’er pierces;

There the heart ne’er heaves a sigh;
There in white we walk with Jesus,

All our loved connections by:
And to reach it,

‘T is a privilege to die.