Philip Doddridge wrote the following hymn, which is titled “Fruitful Showers, Emblems of the Salutary Effects of the Gospel.” The idea is derived from Isaiah 55:10-12.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
And the diffusive rain!
To heaven, from whence it fell,
It turns not back again;
But waters Earth through every pore,
And calls forth all its secret store.
2. Arrayed in beauteous green,
The hills and valleys shine,
And man and beast are fed
By providence divine:
The harvest bows its golden ears,
The copious seed of future years.
3. “So,” saith the God of Grace,
“My gospel shall descend,
“Almighty to effect
“The purpose I intend;
“Millions of souls shall feel its power,
“And bear it down to millions more.”
4. “Joy shall begin your march
“And peace protect your ways,
“While all the mountains round
“Echo melodious praise;
“The vocal groves shall sing the God
“And every tree consenting nod.”
This hymn was published posthumously in 1755 in Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, by Job Orton (J. Eddowes and J. Cotton, 1755). It is Hymn CXI and is written in Hallelujah Meter (H. M.). The hymn does not seem to be settled with any one particular tune. It will fit well with Lenox, with which it has been paired at times, as well as Allerton. More recently, shape-note composer Raymond Hamrick arranged a tune named Harvest for this text.
Philip Doddridge (1702–1751) was an English Nonconformist minister and hymnwriter. In addition to his hymns, his published works include The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, The Family Expositor, Three Sermons on the Evidences of the Gospel, Ten Sermons on the Power and Grace of Christ, and A Dissertation on the Inspiration of the New Testament. Doddridge died October 26, 1751, at age 49 while in Lisbon, Portugal. He was buried at the British Cemetery in Lisbon. Well-known hymns written by Philip Doddridge include “Grace ’tis a charming sound,” “Hark, the glad sound, the Saviour comes,” “O God of Bethel, by Whose hand,” and “O happy day, that fixed my choice.”
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