There is one feature about my text for to-day that is likely to draw
at least momentary attention. That feature is its simplicity. I am
glad to hope that this may give rise to a query in the mind of each
hearer in substance something like this: "What can he have to say on
such a simple text as that? I am going to listen and see what he will
make of it." I see your eyes have turned to me now; but, beloved
brethren and sisters, whilst the eyes of your bodies are turned to me
from feelings of curiosity, I beg that the eyes of your understandings
and hearts may be turned to the Lord, for grace, on my part to speak,
and on your part to hear.
The text, in its simplicity of phraseology and external sense, looks
like a nut without a kernel. It comes to the ear like the uncertain
sound of a trumpet: "_A sower went out to sow his seed_." No part of
the farmer's work, however, is more common in its seasons than this;
and I may add with emphasis, that no part of the farmer's work in its
seasons is more _important_ than this. The life of the world depends
upon two great facts--_seeding_ and _harvesting_; and when the Lord
established his covenant with Noah after the flood, two of the
essential provisions of that covenant were couched in these words:
"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest shall not cease." I
never read that covenant but with delight, because I love farming, and
when at home farming is my business. Here is my covenant with the
Lord, and my assurance that my seedings will be blessed.
There is one thing in the provisions of that covenant to which I wish
to call special attention. It is all found in one compound word, and
that word is