Benefit of Sorrow

Two seeds lie before us ,- one warmed in the sun , the other falls from the sowers hands into the cold dark earth , and there it lies buried beneath the soil . The seed which suns itself in the noontide beam may rejoice in the light in which it basks , but it is liable to be devoured by the bird ; and certainly nothing can come of it , however long it may linger above ground ; but the other seed , hidden beneath the clods in a damp, dark sepulchre , soon swells , germinates , bursts its sheath ,upheaves the mould , springs up a green blade , buds , blossoms , becomes a flower , exhales perfume , and loads the wings of every wind . Better far for the seed to pass into the earth and die , than to lie in the sunshine and produce no fruit ; and even thus for thee the future in its sorrow shall be a sowing in a fertile land ; tears shall moisten thee , grace shall increase within thee , and thou shalt grow up in the likeness of thy Lord unto perfection of holiness , to be such a flower of God's own planting as even angels shall delight to gaze upon in the day of thy transplanting to celestial soil .

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