SOWING SEED: by Elder L. D. Santee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 9, 1901

SOWING SEED:

By Elder L. D. Santee

ELDER L. D. SANTEE.

“BEHOLD, a sower went forth to sow.” Matt. 13:3.

Patient we sow with weary hand, In the soil of the heart in every land, While many a kernel of precious grain Is lost on the rocks of greed and gain; Many the powers in earth and air, To choke out the seed that would blossom fair, But though soil be sterile, or hearts be hard, Still shall the sower receive reward.

Sowing the seed though it profit not, Speaking kind words to be forgot, Sowing in hearts that are hard and cold, Haughty with pride and love of gold, Drop we the seed where the heart has been Torn and blackened by ways of sin; Christ will from heaven our work regard, And the faithful sower receive reward.

Patient we labor through years of toil, Dropping the germs in the heart’s deep soil, Asking the blessing of God to crown The good seed scattered, the labor done. Asking our Father, with gracious face, To water the seed with the dews of grace; Asking that evil may not retard The yield, when the sower receives reward.

Some seed falls in the fertile mold, Growing, perchance, to an hundredfold, Ripening whether in sun or rain, Yielding the Master the golden grain. So, though many a grain is lost, Many a seed on the rocks is tossed, Labor was earnest and long and hard, And the faithful sower receives reward.