Fountain of mercy, God of love

Fountain of mercy, God of love. Alice Flowerdew* (1759-1830).  This is from the Third Edition of Flowerdew’s Poems, on Moral and Religious Subjects (1811). It was entitled ‘Harvest Hymn’, and is of some interest as preceding the general establishment of Harvest Festival services. It had six stanzas:  Fountain of mercy, God of love!   How rich Thy bounties are! The rolling seasons, as they move,   Proclaim Thy constant care.  When, in the bosom of the earth,   The sower hid the grain, Thy goodness mark’d its secret birth,   And sent the early rain.  The spring’s sweet influence, Lord, was Thine;   The plants in beauty grew; Thou gav’st refulgent suns to shine,   And mild, refreshing...