Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (also known as Christ the Apple Tree) is a poem written by an unknown New Englander in the 18th century. It has been set to music by a number of composers, including Jeremiah Ingalls (1764-1838) and Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987). The version below shows the poem as printed in the 1803 edition of Divine Hymns.

(wikipedia)

Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

The tree of life my soul hath seen,

Laden with fruit, and always green;

The trees of nature fruitless be,

Compar'd with Christ the Appletree.

This beauty doth all things excel,

By faith I know, but ne'er can tell

The glory which I now can see,

In Jesus Christ the Appletree.

For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought;

I miss'd of all; but no I see

'Tis found in Christ the Appletree.

I'm weary'd with my former toil-

Here I will sit and rest awhile,

Under the shadow I will be,

Of Jesus Christ the Appletree.

With great delight I'll make my stay,

There's none shall fright my soul away;

Among the sons of men I see

There's none like Christ the Appletree.

I'll sit and eat this fruit divine,

It cheers my heart like spirit'al wine;

And now this fruit is sweet to me,

That grows on Christ the Appletree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,

It keeps my dying faith alive;

Which makes my soul in haste to be

With Jesus Christ the Appletree.