Wonderful Grass Seed

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1874

Wonderful Grass Seed.

Rev. Mr. ——, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, has been for some time an efficient worker in the central region of the Prairie State. A few years since, when a portion of the manse farm was to be turned into meadow and pasture land, he visited one of his acquaintances in the country, to buy ten bushels of grass seed for that use.

The seed was found for sale at the ordinary rate, at that time, of five dollars per bushel. The bargain for it was made, and the sacks were filled.

When the money was offered to the Christian farmer, he said, “No, sir; I do not want one cent of money for my pay. But if you will seek out some neighborhood entirely destitute of religious privileges, where there are no professors of religion, and will preach to them as many times as there are bushels of grass seed, I will consider myself fully paid. The selection of the place and mode of procedure I leave entirely to yourself.”

The proposition was accepted; and, after diligent search, the clergyman found a prairie neighborhood, six or seven miles from his own house, that fully answered the description of his farmer friend. An appointment was sent out for preaching in their school-house, and the service was well attended. A second service was held successfully. Then the people requested the minister to hold a “protracted meeting” among them. This was willingly done; the Holy Spirit descended in power; young and old yielded to its sacred influence; and many souls were converted unto the Lord.

And when, at the proper time, the fruits of the blessed work were gathered, and a church of Jesus Christ formed, the number of members was found to be just fifty: exactly the same as the number of dollars the Christian farmer might have had for his grass seed. A church building was erected, where the ordinances of the gospel continued to be dispensed to many, and where the spiritual church still lives and prospers; and all through the blessing of God on that “wonderful grass seed” of Farmer ——! What better investment could he have made? Whenever we thoroughly consecrate our possessions—whatever they may be—to the Master’s glory, he can, and will, open ways for the unexpected and blessed advancement of his kingdom through them. He who cannot go himself to be an evangelist among the masses, may work very effectually in evangelizing them by advising and supporting another who is able to go.

There are within the reach of almost every Christian unoccupied wastes, which it is his duty to seek out and cultivate for the Master. He who is willing to obey God will find Providence leading him to the blessed performance of this duty. And many of these waste places will give the explorer his richest harvest of reward for his self-denying and persevering labors.

“Go and glean among the briars, Growing rank against the wall, For it may be that their shadow Hides the heaviest wheat of all.” —N. D. Williamson.