In the morning sow thy seed
Do all good works early and diligently, which is expressed by
sowing in righteousness, ( Hosea 10:12 ) ;
particularly alms deeds, often signified by sowing seed, (
Psalms
112:9 ) ( 2
Corinthians 9:6-10 ) ; this should be in the morning of
youth, that persons may be inured to it betimes as Obadiah was;
and in the morning of prosperity, as soon as ever Providence
smiles on men, and puts it into the power of their hands, who
should honour the Lord with the firstfruits of their increase;
and in the evening withhold not thine hand;
from sowing seed, from doing good, particularly acts of charity,
in the evening of old age, as Jarchi, like old Barzillai; an age
in which men are apt to be more tenacious and covetous, and
withhold more than is meet; yea, in the evening of adversity do
not leave off doing good as much as can be; but do as the
Macedonian churches, whose deep poverty abounded to the riches of
their liberality in a great trial of affliction, ( 2
Corinthians 8:2 ) ; in short, good is to be done at all
times, as opportunity offers, throughout the whole of life, and
in all conditions and circumstances; for thou knowest not
whether shall prosper, either this or that;
the seed sown in the morning or in the evening, which good work
shall best succeed; therefore do both, try all ways, make use of
all opportunities; or whether they both [shall be] alike
good;
acceptable to God, and useful to men; and if so, a man will have
no occasion to repent of what he has done both in youth and old
age.