THE FAMILY ALTAR:

May 1.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth

and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. 126:5. 6

"How," says one, "shall God wipe away my tears in heaven if

I shed none on earth? And how shall I reap in joy if I sow

not in tears? I was born with tears and I shall die with tears;

and why, then, should I live without them in this vale of tears?"

But mark the words of the Psalmist. He does not say : They

that sow tears — as if the tears in themselves were precious seed.

It is a vain hope many entertain who think, because they suffered

so much here, God is in duty bound to reward them with ever-

lasting joy there. But no ! Not the tears, but the sowing is

what decides. He that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap

corruption, bitter tears and sorrow. "Tears are not always fruitful ;

their hot drops Sometimes but scorch the cheek and dim the eye;

Despairing murmurs over blackened hopes, Not the meek spirit's

calm and chastened cry !" To him, however, who engages in "God's

husbandry," who sows seeds for eternity, who earnestly strives to

save himself and others, to him a joyful harvest is promised. He

must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

He will sow tears of repentance over his own sins and the sins

of his fellow-men. He will sow in prayerful weeping, often seeking

God's face for help and comfort in his sorrows. He will sow in

tears of burning longing to be delivered from this present evil

world and to be at home with the Lord. As his sowing was in

tears, so his reaping shall be in joy. In heaven his eyes shall

see that his believing, and tearful praying, and laboring for Christ

were not in vain, but ripened into bountiful sheaves of eternal joy,

and peace, and bliss that knows no end. Then shall he be like

them that dream, and his mouth shall be filled with laughter,

and his tongue with everlasting praise.

Yonder in joy the sheaves we bring,

Whose seed was sown on earth in tears;

There in our Father's house we sing

The song too sweet for mortal ears.

Sorrow and sighing all are past,

And pain and death are fled at last;

There with the Lamb of God we dwell,

He leads us to the crystal river,

He wipes away all tears forever;

What there is ours no tongue can tell.