SOW THE SEED by J. N. Ayers

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1878

SOW THE SEED.

By J. N. Ayers

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11 : 6.

Youth is here represented by the “morning,” old age by the “evening,” showing the necessity there is for all, young and old, to be at work. Each has his place to fill, his work to do, and as we are living in the closing days of the gospel dispensation, how necessary it is that all should be at work “while it is day,” remembering that “the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9 : 4. Jesus is soon coming; probation will soon close; the world must be warned; the time to sow is almost past. Oh! where are the sowers? Where are those that have been sowing? “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9 : 62. Where are those that want to work, and no one has hired them? “Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.” Matt. 20 : 7. Jesus is talking; do you believe him? Will you work for Jesus? He will see that you are paid.

“For we are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Cor. 3 : 9. “Husbandry,” the business of cultivating the earth. Paul here gives us an illustration that all may understand. We all know how the farmer goes to work to raise a crop. He plows the ground, harrows it until all the clods are thoroughly pulverized, sows the seed and covers it so that the fowls will not pick it up, and leaves it to grow. But all this labor would be in vain if God did not give the increase. “Doth the ploughman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” Isa. 28 : 24-26.

God works by means, and when he has a work to do on the earth among men, he raises up a people to do it; and if they fail he will raise up others to take their places and their crowns. The time for the third message to be given arrived, the S. D. Adventists were raised up, and their ministers are now carrying this message to the world. The day of its proclamation is far spent, and we know it is to go with a “loud voice.” The ministers are doing all they can. They may be likened to an army led on by the “third angel.” The battle goes hard; but still they move forward, fighting valiantly for the truth, fighting error in every form. Help is coming! I hear them shout. Oh, how that shout thrills through every heart! As they look, behold a mighty angel appears. He immediately commences marshaling his forces to help the “third angel.” He brings his army to the front, takes the skirmish lines, the enemy begins to fall back in disorder, his forces press forward, routing the enemy from all their strong positions, leaving the ground well strewn with trophies. The old soldiers under the lead of the “third angel” gather them up, and get them ready for the great Commander, who will soon come and take command in person. The T. and M. workers are the forces led on by this mighty angel to help the third angel. They are laboring together with God.

Now for the work. A husbandman does not sow his seed before the ground is plowed, and if it is cloddy after he has broken it up, he will harrow and roll it, until he gets it thoroughly pulverized and level; then he will sow the seed. The seed to be sown is all ready in the shape of tracts, pamphlets, books, and papers. The man that sows no grain in seed time cannot expect to reap in the time of harvest. If he does not prepare his ground, he cannot expect to reap much but weeds; there may be a few sickly stalks, but very little grain. So if we want a plentiful harvest, we must first prepare the ground for the seed. Do this by gentleness. If the man with whom you are conversing breaks up rough and cloddy, smooth him down with love and kindness; get all the anger out of him, and then before leaving hand him a tract on the subject you have had under discussion. Pursue this course in the fear of the Lord, being very careful not to offend, so as to choke the seed already sown, and persevere until you have his mind well seeded with the truths of the message. Then the living preacher can water the seed, and God will give the increase. But we must first have our own hearts broken up and brought into subjection to God’s will, getting self entirely out of the way.

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labors.” 1 Cor. 3 : 8. The devil will be at work, picking up all the seed he can before it gets rooted; and you will see some that will not understand. Others will receive the truth with gladness, but in a short time they will give up and go back to the world; while others will bring forth fruit, some sixty, some an hundred fold. Matt. 13 : 18-23.

“Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” Isa. 32 : 20. “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. 126 : 5, 6. Who will sow the seed?

J. N. AYERS.