217. Sowing And Reaping.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. - Galatians 6:7.

BOTH Luther and Calvin confine these words to the support of the ministers of the word, and certainly therein they have weighty meaning.

Churches that starve ministers will be starved themselves.

But we prefer to take the words as expressing a general principle.

I. GOD IS NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH.

1. Either by the notion that there will be no rewards and punishments.

2. Or by the idea that a bare profession will suffice to save us.

3. Or by the fancy that we shall escape in the crowd.

4. Or by the superstitious supposition that certain rites will set all straight at last, whatever our lives may be.

5. Or by a reliance upon an orthodox creed, a supposed conversion, a presumptuous faith, and a little almsgiving.

II. THE LAWS OF HIS GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE SET ASIDE.

1. It is so in nature. Law is inexorable. Gravitation crushes the man who opposes it.

2. It is so in providence. Evil results surely follow social wrong.

3. Conscience tells us it must be so. Sin must be punished.

4. The word of God is very clear upon this point.

5. To alter laws would disarrange the universe and remove the foundation of the hopes of the righteous.

III. EVIL SOWING WILL BRING EVIL REAPING.

1. This is seen in the present result of certain sins.

· Sins of lust bring disease into the bodily frame.

· Sins of idolatry have led men to cruel and degrading practices.

· Sins of temper have caused murders, wars, strifes, and misery.

· Sins of appetite, especially drunkenness, cause want, misery, delirium, etc.

2. This is seen in the mind becoming more and more corrupt and less able to see the evil of sin or to resist temptation.

3. This is seen when the man becomes evidently obnoxious to God and man so as to need restraint and invite punishment.

4. This is seen when the sinner becomes himself disappointed in the result of his conduct. His malice eats his heart; his greed devours his soul; his infidelity destroys his comfort; his raging passions agitate his spirit.

5. This is seen when the impenitent is confirmed in evil and eternally punished with remorse. Hell will be the harvest of a man's own sin. Conscience is the worm, which gnaws him.

IV. GOOD SOWING WILL BRING GOOD REAPING.

The rule holds good both ways. Let us, therefore, enquire as to this good sowing:

1. In what power is it to be done?

2. In what manner and spirit shall we set about it?

3. What are its seeds?

· Towards God, we sow in the Spirit, faith and obedience.

· Towards men, love, truth, justice, kindness, forbearance.

· Towards self, control of appetite, purity, etc.

4. What is the reaping of the Spirit?

Life everlasting dwelling within us and abiding there forever.

Let us sow good seed always.

Let us sow it plentifully that we may reap in proportion.

Let us begin to sow it at once.