A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations / Consisting of Choice Passages from the Sacred Poetry of All Ages and Countries, Classified and Arranged, for Facility of Reference, Under Subject Headings; Illustrated by Striking Passages from Scripture, and Forming Altogether a Complete Book of Devotional Poetry.

by Unknown

SOWING.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.—Psalm cxxvi. 5.

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 both shall be alike good.—Ecclesiastes, xi. 6.

Sow in the morn thy seed,

At eve hold not thine hand;

To doubt and fear give thou no heed,—

Broad-cast it o’er the land.

Beside all waters sow,

The highway furrows stock;

Drop it where thorns and thistles grow,

Scatter it on the rock.

The good, the fruitful ground,

Expect not here nor there;

O’er hill and dale, by plots ’tis found;

Go forth, then, everywhere.

Thou know’st not which may thrive,

The late or early sown;

Grace keeps the precious germs alive,

When and wherever strown.

And duly shall appear,

In verdure, beauty, strength,

The tender blade, the stalk, the ear,

And the full corn at length.

Thou canst not toil in vain;

Cold, heat, and moist, and dry,

Shall foster and mature the grain,

For garners in the sky.

Thence, when the glorious end,

The day of God is come,

The angel-reapers shall descend,

And heaven cry, “Harvest home!”

James Montgomery.

Sow thy seed, and reap in gladness!

Man himself is all a seed;

Hope and hardship, joy and sadness,

Slow the plant to ripeness lead.

John Sterling.