Southern Christian Advocate

SOWING BESIDE ALL WATERS.

The text gives us another measure by which we may learn our responsibilities. We are there taught that if we would receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of our salvation, we must "Sow beside all waters;" not merely on the banks of this favored stream, which we hallow with the associations of childhood, or beside the margin of that glassy lake, on which we have seen the sunshine glittering, in our happiest hours; but we must "sow beside all waters," the wild and the headlong cataract, the dark and stagnant pool, as well as beside the clear and sparkling watercourses which our fancy loves. How little soever may be the interest we feel in the region around us, how unpromising soever may be the aspect of the sky above us, how parched and arid, bleak and desolate, or rank and choked up with weeds, may be the aspect of the soil, we must remember that our part is to follow the example of Him who causeth His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. We must be husbandmen diligent and wise; we must put our hands to the plough, and then sow the good seed, leaving it to Him to give the precious fruits of increase, at whose Word "the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear;" and who, "when the fruit is brought forth, immediately putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."

But what is the seed which we are to sow? It is to be the implanting of faith, of Christian principle, of godly fear in our fellow Christians' hearts. It is to be the "word in season," "the cup of cold water" given for Christ's sake, "the soft answer" that turneth away wrath, the friendly warning, the affectionate expostulation, the honest, yet humble, expression of opinion, the cheerful encouragement; all these are various kinds of good seed. The good seed is sown when we "hold up the weak, heal the sick; bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost:" but, believe me, my brethren, the best and most fruitful seed of all is, the quiet, consistent example of a holy life; faith that worketh by love,—faith unfeigned, and that love which is the fulfilling of the law.

Here, then, is seed which all may sow; here is seed which they who love God will sow "beside all waters." "Young or old, rich or poor, all may sow good seed.—Wherever you are, whatever may be your calling, there is still a field before you into which you may cast the precious grain. In your families or in the world, among strangers or friends, amid your most active occupations as well as in the seasons of leisure, you have, each of you, in his own sphere and capacity, the opportunity of setting that in the soil which may hereafter take root and flourish, to the endless benefit of yourself and others. Each, in his respective walk, may leave behind him the trace of a good example, for the guidance, and comfort, and encouragement of his brethren.

I know it may be said that the attempt to do good universally, to bring all our friends, acquaintances, and dependents to obedience to the laws of the Gospel, is a disheartening, a thankless, a hopeless task. But what then? Granting the assertion to be true, which of course, I do not, ought the difficulty or even impracticability of what he attempts to be a hindrance to one who has faith in Christ, and in the strengthening grace of His Spirit? Surely no.

The fact is, that if the undertaking seem disheartening, that is your own fault: but thankless it is not; hopeless it is not. It is not, cannot be thankless to those who have faith in the promise, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days." Discouragement is a trial, and ingratitude is a trial, but who are we that we should expect to escape trial? "Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient." The good seed you have sown may long lie dormant, but who can say that when the favorable opportunity ariseth it will not revive and grow, and bring forth precious increase? The working of the leaven may not be seen at once, but who, on that account will venture to deny that when it has been fairly mingled with the mass, the whole shall not be leavened?

Page's Sermons on Duties of Daily Life.