While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease. Gen. 8:22
"Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Tim. 4:8. By faith we receive the declarations of Jehovah, as the blessings of a father's love. The returning seasons, the revolving periods of time, declare the glory of our heavenly Father. While the christian meditates upon the innumerable blessings of time, and gratitude inspires his heart for them; yet, far nobler subjects demand the contemplation of his soul. Happy for us, when temporal blessings are enjoyed as covenant mercies, and are sanctified to us in Christ. We see and adore the sovereignty of God in appointing times and seasons. The immutability of his will is the law by which they are governed. When the fixed period shall come, all nature shall be reduced to its primitive no thingness. Time shall be swallowed up in a never-ending eternity. Happy souls, who are taught the displays of grace from the images of nature; who bow to the sovereignty of love, rejoice in the covenant of grace, and rest upon the immutability of God's purposes, and promises in Christ to poor sinners. Such are assured, that as in nature, so in grace, seed-time and harvest shall not fail to God's church and people, because of "his everlasting covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure."
There is a time for the immortal seed of the word to be sown in every elect soul. This is experienced by the seed striking root in conviction of sin, and its springing up in faith, desire, and love to Jesus. And because the Sun of righteousness ever lives, and shines upon his members, they shall most assuredly reap a harvest of eternal glory. Chilling cold and winter's blasts may succeed the summer of love and warmth of affection. Nights of darkness, from desertion, temptation, and affliction, may follow days of peace, joy, and consolation. These various seasons and changes will pass upon and be experienced by believing souls "while the earth remaineth"–so long as our earthly nature continues; but it is sentenced to dissolution. We must leave it on this side Jordan; then we shall see it no more, as an enemy, forever. But, in the presence of Jesus, the soul shall have fulness of joy, and the body shall be raised a glorious body, to enjoy the pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. There shall be no night of darkness, no chill of affections, no winter of distress This is now our sweet consolation; Christ saith, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 15:19. And "when Christ our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." Col. 3:4.
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