Sow in Righteousness, and reap in Mercy

Sow in Righteousness, and reap in Mercy.

I find some of the ancients they interpret this somewhat wildly.

Sow in Righteousness: that is, (says Hierom upon the place) Sow in the Law, in obedience to the Law, and reap in the grace of the Gospel; that's his interpretation; you shall sow in the works of the Law, and reap in the Gospel. This is far fetched.

I find Luther upon the place, as Hierom goes somewhat too legal, (so Luther) because his heart was much in the Gospel; and he brings all Scriptures to the uttermost he can for expressing the grace of the Gospel, he goes somewhat at the furthest the other way.

Sow in Righteousness: what's the seeds of Righteousness? That is, says he, the doctrine of the Gospel tendering the Righteousness of Jesus Christ: the attending to this doctrine of the Gospel, and embracing this, that there is Righteousness in Jesus Christ alone, this is sowing in Righteousness. For (says he) what other Righteousness is there but this? When Reason would come to the highest degree of Righteousness, what is it that it does, only this, to conclude Righteousness to be, to depart from evil, and do things that are good, but what Righteousness is this? But the Scripture Righteousness is this: for a man to know that he has no good at all in himself, that all his evil is pardoned in Jesus Christ, this is the Righteousness of the Gospel, and this is the seed, the seed of all good works. I name this, though I can hardly think that this is the scope of the Prophet at this time, yet there is a very good meditation from this which I see that useful man in the Church of God [Luther] goes on in. Says he, What madness and blindness in the adversary is there, that will urge people to sow, and yet they do reject and cast off this seed that they should sow? That is the doctrine of the imputation of the Righteousness of Christ by faith, why says he, in all pulpits there's crying out to men for good works, that they would sow in Righteousness, but (says he) where have they their seed? The thing certainly is an excellent truth that he has upon the place: how vain is it for men to be taught to sow good works till they have got the seed? And the seed of all good works is, the Righteousness that we have by Jesus Christ; and therefore he falls a rebuking those that shall blame the doctrine of the Gospel as the means of licentiousness. Says he, there's a great many when we preach of the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, think that we preach licentiousness, and that men may live as they list, it's quite contrary, when we preach the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, we preach the seed of all good works, and those that have this seed, good works will come out of them. But says he further, They would have Righteousness, but what? They slight the Righteousness of God's making, the Righteousness of his Son, but they must have Righteousness of their own to tender up to God, and then when they come to good works they will slight God's good works, and they will be giving to God of their good works, the world does neglect those as light things, that is, the works of mercy, to receive the saints, etc. No, but they will have other brave works, to build churches, and temples, and monasteries, and to lavish out gold about them, and they are the chief good works. They will not come to do the work as it were of a servant, but rather the work of a benefactor to God, for in relieving your poor brother when none but yourself and God knows it you do the work of a servant then, but to build brave temples, and monasteries, and lavish out gold upon them; this is for you to be a benefactor to God. But thus much for his speech.