PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Sowing and Reaping
Moody, Dwight Lyman, 1837-1899 · 24,387 words · 41 reading sections
Part 1
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13 wordsSECTION 2D. L. MOODY.
_'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.'_ Gal. vi: 7. Chicago: New York: Toronto Fleming H. Revell Company Publishers of Evangelical Literature _Copyright 1896 by_ _Fleming H. Revell Company._…
33 wordsSECTION 3CONTENTS
Chap. I. Sowing and Reaping II. Be Not Deceived: God Is Not Mocked III. When a Man Sows, He Expects to Reap IV. A Man Reaps the Same Kind as He Sows V. A Man Reaps More than He Sows VI. Ignorance of the Seed Makes No Difference VII. Forgiveness and Retribution VIII. Warning…
54 wordsSECTION 4CHAPTER I.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians vi: 7, 8. I think this passage contains truths that no infidel or sceptic…
841 wordsSECTION 5Part 5
The principle was not new in Scripture or in history when Paul enunciated it in his letter to the Galatians. Paul clothes it in language derived from the farm, but in other dress the Law of Sowing and Reaping may be seen in the Law of Cause and Effect, the Law of Retribution or Retaliation, the Law of Compensation. It …
865 wordsSECTION 6Part 6
Just as the full-grown harvest is potentially contained in the seed, so the full results of sin or holiness are potentially contained in the sinful or holy deed. "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Just as we cannot reap a good harvest unless we have s…
864 wordsSECTION 7Part 7
From this we may learn that there is no such thing as a trifle on earth. When we realize that every thought and word and act has an eternal influence, and will come back to us in the same way as the seed returns in the harvest, we must perceive their responsibility, however trifling they may seem. We are apt to overloo…
628 wordsSECTION 8BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED.
"_Let no man deceive you_."--Eph. v: 6. "_As one man mocketh another, do ye so mock Him?_"--Job xiii: 9.…
22 wordsSECTION 9CHAPTER II.
Be Not Deceived: God Is Not Mocked. We have all lived long enough to know what it is to be deceived. We have been deceived by our friends, by our enemies, our neighbors, our relatives. Ungodly companions have deceived us. At every turn of life we have been imposed upon in one way or another. False teachers have cross…
921 wordsSECTION 10Part 10
Some years ago a remarkable picture was exhibited in London. As you looked at it from a distance, you seemed to see a monk engaged in prayer, his hands clasped, his head bowed. As you came nearer, however, and examined the painting more closely, you saw that in reality he was squeezing a lemon into a punchbowl! What a…
832 wordsSECTION 11Part 11
An English clergyman was called to the death-bed of a wealthy parishioner. Kneeling beside the dying man the pastor asked him to take his hand as he prayed for his upholding in that solemn hour, but he declined to give it. After the end had come, and they turned down the coverlet, the rigid hands were found holding the…
898 wordsSECTION 12WHEN A MAN SOWS, HE EXPECTS TO REAP.
"_Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain_."--James v: 7.…
28 wordsSECTION 13CHAPTER III.
When a Man Sows, He Expects to Reap. Notice these four things about sowing and reaping: A man expects to reap when he sows; he expects to reap the same kind of seed that he sows; he expects to reap more; and ignorance of the kind of seed makes no difference. First: _When a man sows, he expects to reap_. If a farmer …
901 wordsSECTION 14Part 14
"When we were in the flesh, the motions of sins did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." And what does Paul say are the works of the flesh? "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, dru…
824 wordsSECTION 15Part 15
"Sowing to the Spirit" implies self-denial, resistance of evil, obedience to the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, guidance by the Spirit. We sow to the Spirit when we use our abilities and means to advance Spiritual things; when we support and encourage those who are extending the influence of the S…
897 wordsSECTION 16Part 16
In the early years of Israel's existence as a separate people, God commanded them to give the land of Canaan rest every seventh year. "Six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat, and what they…
855 wordsSECTION 17Part 17
I was once preaching in Chicago, and a woman who was nearly out of her mind came to me. You know there are some people who mock at religions meetings, and say that religion drives people mad. It is _sin_ that drives people mad. It is the want of Christ that sinks people into despair. This was the woman's story: She had…
232 wordsSECTION 18A MAN EXPECTS TO REAP THE SAME KIND AS HE SOWS.
"_Herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit . . . after his kind_."--Gen. i: 12. "_Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?_"--Matt. vii: 16. "_For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live_." --Romans viii: …
60 wordsSECTION 19CHAPTER IV.
A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows. If I should tell you that I sowed ten acres of wheat last year and that watermelons came up, or that I sowed cucumbers and gathered turnips, you wouldn't believe it. It is a fixed law that you reap the same kind of seed you sow. Plant wheat and you reap wheat, plant an a…
974 wordsSECTION 20Part 20
I would ask them, "Why won't you come to the church?" "Oh," they would say, "you have it all your own way there, and we can't answer back; but come to the factory and we will put a few questions to you." So I went down, and they made it pretty hot for me sometimes. One of the favorite characters that they brought up …
980 wordsSECTION 21Part 21
Again, look at David. A man said to me some years ago: "Don't you think David fell as low as Saul?" Yes, he fell lower, because God had lifted him higher. The difference is that when Saul fell there was no sign of repentance, but when David fell, a wail went up from his broken heart; there was true repentance. No man…
861 wordsSECTION 22Part 22
Alexander VI. was poisoned by wine he had prepared for another. Henry III. of France was stabbed in the same chamber where he had helped to contrive the cruel massacre of French Protestants. Marie Antoinette, riding to Notre Dame Cathedral for her bridal, bade the soldiers command all beggars, cripples, and ragged peop…
145 wordsSECTION 23A MAN REAPS MORE THAN HE SOWS.
"_But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold_."--Matt. xiii: 8.…
20 wordsSECTION 24CHAPTER V.
A Man Reaps More Than He Sows. If I sow a bushel, I expect to reap ten or twenty bushels. I can sow in one day what will take ten men to reap. The Spaniards have this proverb: "Sow a thought and reap an act. Sow an act, and reap a habit. Sow a habit, and reap a character. Sow a character and reap a destiny." _And it t…
924 wordsSECTION 25Part 25
If a man could do his reaping alone, it would not be so hard; but it is terrible when he has to make that godly father, and that mother who loves him, or that wife and family, reap along with him. Does not the drunkard make his wife and children reap a bitter harvest? Does not the gambler make his relatives reap? Does …
421 wordsSECTION 26IGNORANCE OF THE SEED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.
"_Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good; unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation_."--John v: 28, 29.…
51 wordsSECTION 27CHAPTER VI.
Ignorance of the Seed Makes no Difference. Now, notice again: Ignorance of the kind of seed makes no difference. If I think I am sowing good seed and it happens to be bad, I shall have a bad harvest; therefore, it becomes me to see what kind of seed I am sowing. Suppose I meet a man who is sowing seed, and say: "Hell…
897 wordsSECTION 28Part 28
Young man, are you letting some secret sin get the mastery over you, binding you hand and foot? It is growing. Every sin grows. When I was speaking to five thousand children in Glasgow some years ago, I took a spool of thread and said to one of the largest boys: "Do you believe I can bind you with that thread?" He la…
920 wordsSECTION 29Part 29
Choice is a solemn thing. You can make this moment a turning-point in your life. Once during the conquest of Peru, Pizzaro's followers threatened to desert him. They gathered on the shore to embark for home. Drawing his sword, he traced a line with it in the sand from east to west. Then turning toward the south he said…
630 wordsSECTION 30FORGIVENESS AND RETRIBUTION.
"_Thou renderest to every man according to his work_."--Psalms lxii: 12. "_For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad_."--II Cor. v: 10.…
50 wordsSECTION 31CHAPTER VII.
Forgiveness and Retribution. I can imagine some one saying, "I attend church, and have heard that if we confess our sin, God will forgive us; now I hear that I must reap the same kind of seed that I have sown. How can I harmonize the doctrine of forgiveness with the doctrine of retribution? 'All we like sheep have gon…
895 wordsSECTION 32Part 32
God forgave Moses and Aaron for their sins, but both suffered the penalty. Neither one was permitted to enter the promised land. Jacob became a "prince of God" at the ford of Jabbok, but to the end of his days he carried in his body the mark of the struggle. Paul's thorn in the flesh was not removed, even after most ea…
957 wordsSECTION 33Part 33
He said, "I have been here for six months. I have a wife and three children, but I cannot write to them or hear from them." The poor man was in terrible mental agony. I said, "Why don't you go back and give yourself up and face the law, and ask God to forgive you?" He said, "I would take the first train to-morrow and…
970 wordsSECTION 34Part 34
Oh, the clanging bells of Time! How their changes rise and fall, But in undertone sublime, Sounding clearly through them all, Is a voice that must be heard, As our moments onward flee, And it speaketh aye one word-- Eternity! Eternity! Oh, the clanging bells of Time! To their voices loud and low, In a long, unresting …
138 wordsSECTION 35WARNING.
"_Take heed that no man deceive you_."--Matt. xxiv: 4. "_Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus_."--Col. i: 27, 28.…
44 wordsSECTION 36WARNING.
To give a warning is a sign of love. Who warns like a mother, and who loves like a mother? Your mother, perhaps, is gone, and your father is gone. Let me take the place of those who have departed, and lift up a warning voice. With Paul I would say: "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn y…
868 wordsSECTION 37Part 37
Beware of your habits. A recent writer has said: "Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state. We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, and never to be undone. Every smallest stroke of virtue or of vice l…
854 wordsSECTION 38Part 38
Beware of ignorance and indifference. You cannot afford to neglect your soul. There is too much at stake. I never knew an idle man to be converted. Until he wakes up and realizes his lost and hopeless condition, God Almighty will not reach down and take him by the hand. A ship was once in great danger at sea, and all b…
908 wordsSECTION 39Part 39
With all reverence we may apply this text to our Lord Himself. We have His own authority for it. On one occasion when the jews cavilled at His actions, He said: "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." On another occasion they gath…
907 wordsSECTION 40Part 40
'My child,' He said, 'what is the matter?' Before I could answer Him, He was down in the mire by my side. He folded His arms about me and lifted me up; then He fed me and rested me. When I was well He did not say: Now, don't do that again, but He said: 'We will walk on together now'; and we have been walking together …
878 wordsSECTION 41Part 41
There was a man living near one of the great trunk roads a number of years ago, who one night saw that a landside had obstructed the track. He saw by the clock that he hadn't time to reach the telegraph office to stop the night express, so he caught up a lantern and started up the track, thinking he might be in time to…
252 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.