Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

I thought this was one of the most beautiful carols today in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England. In this video it is followed by the better known "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti.

Here are the words to 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

Compared with Christ, the apple tree.

His 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 apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought;

I missed of all, but now I see,

’Tis found in Christ, the apple tree.

I’m weary with my former toil,

Here I will sit and rest awhile:

Under the shadow I will be

Of Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

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 apple tree.

JESUS CHRIST, THE APPLE TREE

Words, ANON., COLLECTION OF JOSHUA SMITH,

NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1784

Music, ELIZABETH POSTON

Cambridge University Press

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