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I. TO PRODUCE THE SHOCK OF CORN, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SEED SOWN.

II. THE SEED SOWN MUST HAVE CONTAINED THE PRINCIPLE OF CORN LIFE.

III. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A PREPARED AND PROPER SOIL.

IV. THE SEED MUST HAVE GROWN GRADUALLY.

V. THE PLANT MUST HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED WITH NOURISHMENT FROM THE ROOT INWARDLY AND BY AIR, RAIN, ETC., OUTWARDLY. This is absolutely necessary in nature, or the plant will wither and die. It is the same in the kingdom of grace. "The trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord" (Isaiah 61:3), must be sustained by the sap from the root, and by the Spirit's operation through the Word and ordinances.

VI. IN GROWING UP IT MUST HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO MANY VICISSITUDES. Cold, heat, drought, flood, and tempest are common between seed-time and harvest; and our Lord has declared to His disciples, that in this world they shall have tribulation.

VII. IT MUST HAVE HAD SUNSHINE TO RIPEN IT. No harvest without sunshine; nor can the soul ripen without the shinings in of the rays of the Sun of Righteousness.

1. Of the truth.

2. Of God's countenance.

3. Of heaven. Conclusion —

1. The husbandman sows seed for the purpose of reaping a joyful harvest. He cuts down the corn when it is golden in the ear that it may not be lost, and when the Lord's time is fully come, He sends forth His reapers.

2. The husbandman separates the grain from the straw, so the Lord separates the spirit from the body. "The body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness."

3. The ingathering is profitable and joyous.

(1)  To the husbandman. Christ sees the travail of His soul, and is satisfied.

(2)  To the angels and Church above.

(3)  To the glorified spirit.

4. Shall we then mourn or regret our loss?

(W. P. Tiddy.)

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KJV: Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

WEB: You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.