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The husbandry and harvest of the righteous: — This is a counter-plea to that profane principle of the atheists, who say, "It is in vain to serve God."

I. WHAT IT IS TO SOW RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is the same as to "sow to the Spirit." The gracious course of consecrating a man's self unto God in the practice of godliness. There is likeness betwixt the practice of godliness and the sowing of seed.

1. In some things which go before sowing — the preparation and fitting of the ground, and the choice of seed to put in the ground. In like manner there must be in the practice of godliness the preparation of the heart and the choice of particulars belonging to a Christian course.

2. In the act of sowing, which may include the time of sowing and the plenty of sowing. In the spiritual business the seed-time for righteousness is in this life; the opportunity must be taken when it comes. And to sow righteousness is to be rich in good works.

3. In the things that follow after sowing. The fields must be hedged, the cattle shut out, the birds driven away, the stones picked out, and the field watched to see how it goes on. In spiritual matters it is vain to have entered into a good course if it be not continued. The signs of the practice of godliness are —

(1)  The submitting a man's self to have his heart broken up by the power of God's Word;

(2)  a diligent inquiry into the best way of pleasing God;

(3)  a pressing forward amid many encumbrances;

(4)  a striving and caring to be fruitful in good works;

(5)  a watching over a man's course with a continued diligence.

II. WHAT IS THE SURE REWARD? This is either in the life present or in that which is to come. Rewards in this life are both outward and inward: outward so far forth as the wisdom of God shall see it fitting. The inward is peace of conscience, arising out of the comfortable assurance of God's favour. This is a joy working even in afflictions. The reward in the life to come cannot be expressed. Scripture reasoneth concerning the certainty of this reward by a proverbial speech, "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Holiness in the seed, happiness in the harvest. And by the truth of God's promise. There is a double reward — a reward of favour and a reward of debt. The doctrines to be collected are —

1. That the practice of godliness is a matter which requireth great industry.

2. That the full reward of religion is not to be looked for immediately on the practice of religion. Sowing and reaping come not at once.

3. That the Lord will surely reward those which faithfully labour in His service. Though there be many a storm after our sowing, the harvest will come, and we shall be comforted. Farmers pay their workmen straight after their labour, before the corn be ripe, but the payments are of far less value than the corn. God bestoweth upon His all that they have sown, and the hire shall far exceed the travail.

(S. Hieron.)

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KJV: The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

WEB: Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.