The Eighth of April.

BEARING PRECIOUS SEED --- Psalm 126:5, 6.

"Put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?" --- Psalm 56:8.

Divine Answer: "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." --- Psalm 126:5, 6.

Believer, if thou art now reaping in joy, and singing hymns of triumph, be thankful; but remember that this work belongs more to the next world than the present. Here weeping and rejoicing follow each other, and sorrow will oft find a lodging in the bosom of faith.

For there is no retreat from the field of battle; and thine enemies will not leave thee while thou hast a breath to draw. It is, indeed, needful to be humbled under a sense of misery, so as to sigh, groan, and weep often; and this is the true seed for eternity.

Not a single tear or groan will be lost. They are all in the book of the Lord.

God counts the sorrows of the saints:
Their groans affect his ears;
He has a book for their complaints,
A bottle for their tears.

The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night:
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

Let those who sow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come;
They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.