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SOWING IN TEARS
THIS seems to be a general truth founded on the experience of those who returned from the Babylonish captivity, and the correspondent experience of all who return from the bondage of sin and Satan. The Israelites, like Peter liberated from his prison, were so astonished at their deliverance, that it seemed to them more like a dream than a reality. The very heathens themselves wondered at it, and ascribed it to the influence of Jehovah, as also the Israelites did with joy and gratitude, taking occasion from it to implore the speedy and perfect restoration of all their tribes [Note: Ver. 1–4. The rain which descended in torrents on the southern or hilly country of Judea, often filled the vallies with rapid streams, which quickly passing away as soon as the rain ceased, the rivers were suddenly transformed into verdant fields. Thus sudden and perfect the Israelites desired their restoration to be.]. Such also are the wonder and joy occasioned by the conversion of a soul to God; and such are the desires which instantly vent themselves in fervent petitions for complete deliverance. But as among the captive Jews, so in the enslaved soul, a season of sorrow precedes the time of emancipation. Nevertheless it shall be found universally true, that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Let us inquire,
I. What we are to understand by sowing in tears?
“The sorrow of the world worketh death;” and therefore cannot be that to which the promise is made. To sow in tears implies,
1. A painful recollection of past sins—
[We all are sinners from our earliest youth: and every sin we have ever committed, is as fresh in the remembrance of the Deity as if it had been committed this very hour. Nor should we think the less of our sins because they have been long passed: on the contrary, we should view them with all the shame and sorrow that they excited in our bosoms the very instant that our consciences first accused us. Like God’s people of old, we should be bowed down greatly in the recollection of them [Note: Psa_38:3-8. Jer_31:19; Jer_3:25. Eze_16:63.], and earnestly entreat, with David, that God would not call us into judgment for them [Note: Psa_25:7.].]
2. A penitent concern for present infirmities—
[The very best of men has much within him to mourn over. It is but in part that any of us are renewed. Many are the corruptions that yet work within us; and the very imperfection of our prayers and praises is enough to make us go mourning all the day long. St. Paul found so much conflict in his soul by reason of his indwelling corruptions that he exclaimed, “O wretched man that I am [Note: Rom_7:14-24.]!” and groaned earnestly for death as the season when he should be freed from all the imperfections of his nature, and serve, as well as enjoy, God with unabated ardour [Note: 2Co_5:4.]. Thus should we also “go softly before God in the bitterness of our souls [Note: Isa_38:15.],” and lothe ourselves before him in dust and ashes [Note: Job_40:4; Job_42:6.].]
3. An overwhelming sense of God’s goodness—
[Nothing a more characteristic of true piety than this. Every day and hour we have reason to adore the divine goodness. What patience does God exercise towards us under all our backslidings! What readiness does he manifest to return to our souls the very instant we return to him, yea, often revealing himself to us, and shedding abroad his love in our hearts, when we had no reason to expect any thing but some heavy token of his displeasure! The psalmist, impressed with such views of God, exclaims, “O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men [Note: Psa_31:19.]!” But the most striking example of this frame of mind is afforded us by the poor woman, who, to express her love and gratitude, kissed the feet of her Saviour, and washed them with floods of tears [Note: Luk_7:38.]. Would to God that such were the state of our minds, and that we might ever be found, as to our souls at least, in that posture!]
Omitting many other grounds of weeping, we proceed to inquire,
II. What encouragement we have to weep?
To those who sow their corn, there is but one harvest: but to those who sow in tears there are two:
1. We shall reap in this world—
[God will not despise the broken and contrite heart [Note: Psa_51:17.]: on the contrary, “he will hear the voice of our weeping:” tears, when flowing from a contrite soul, have an eloquence which he cannot resist. He will speak peace to the soul: he will blot out its transgressions as a morning cloud [Note: Luk_7:47-48; Luk_7:50. 1Jn_1:9.]. He will cause the light of his countenance to shine upon it; and will give unto it a spirit of adoption, whereby it shall cry with confidence, Abba, Father [Note: Jer_31:9; Jer_31:20.]! And will not such a harvest recompense a hundred years of weeping? Look but at the state of the Prodigal, and see him, after his short seed-time of weeping, welcomed to his father’s house, and feasting with him on the fatted calf; was he not well repaid? had he any reason to regret his tears of penitence? Thus then shall it be with us in this world, provided we be content to sow in tears: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy shall come in the morning [Note: Psa_30:5.].”]
2. We shall reap also in the world to come—
[All that the penitent soul enjoys in this world is but an earnest of what it shall hereafter possess. There is “a full reward [Note: 2 John, ver. 8.],” “an everlasting life [Note: Gal_6:8.],” which shall be reaped as the fruit of what we now sow. The tears we shed are all treasured up with care in the vial of our heavenly Father: every sigh, and every groan, shall be remembered before him; and shall add to that abundant and eternal weight of glory which we shall then receive. And who can estimate those “sheaves which we shall then bring with us?” How will all our sorrows vanish in an instant, and be turned into unutterable joy [Note: Isa_30:10.]! Let us then look forward to that time, and “not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”]
Address—
1. To those who have never known any seed-time like this—
[Is there not occasion enough for you to weep? Think how you have neglected your God and father; how you have trampled on the blood of Christ your Saviour: and how you have resisted the motions of the Holy Spirit in your hearts! Think too, how you have made the very consideration of God’s mercy and forbearance an occasion of more boldness in transgressing against him! This, independent of any gross acts of sin, is sufficient to make your head a fountain of tears to run down day and night for your iniquities. “Be afflicted, then, and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness; humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up [Note: Jam_4:9-10.].”]
2. To those who are daily sowing in tears—
[Possibly, some may be discouraged, because they do not reap so soon as they expected. But, if this be the case, let them examine whether they do indeed “sorrow after a godly sort:” and, if they have the testimony of a good conscience in this respect, let them wait patiently, as the husbandman [Note: Jam_5:7.], for “doubtless they shall come again with rejoicing:” joy and gladness are sown for them, and shall spring up in due season [Note: Psa_97:11.]. Let them be contented to “go on their way” weeping, even though the way be ever so long; for tears are a seed “precious” unto God, and they shall bring a glorious harvest at the last.]