THE HUSBANDMAN

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  As to every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and as to every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.",
John 15 1,2.

"More fruit" - 'tis for Himself,
  His pleasure to fulfil -
He takes the branch in hand
  With rare and perfect skill.

He seeks the goodly fruit,
  The Husbandman divine;
He prunes and trains the branch,
 That Christ in us may shine.

The pruning may give pain,
  The training make us smart;
From things to which we cling
  'Tis bitter thus to part.

Would we be left alone,
  Untended by His care,
To grow untamed and wild,
  Nothing of Christ to bear?

Not so; we look to Him,
  To train us as He please;
To clear away whate'er
  Unsuited there He sees;

That thus the fruit may be
  Both plentiful and choice;
For Him , the Husbandman,
  To make His heart rejoice.

(This is another by T Willey, published in "The Songs of the Lord", 1931.)