THE immediate context gives us an account of the circumstances in which these words were spoken. The Lord had gone forth about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. While thus engaged He was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes who were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. This led Him to remark to His disciples that the harvest truly was plenteous but the labourers few. He saw multitudes living without the means of becoming acquainted with the way of salvation, and as that could only be attained through the instrumentality of divinely appointed agents, He exhorts His disciples to intercede with the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth labourers into His harvest. From this counsel we may learn that there is nothing that should so deeply engage our thoughts and occupy our time as the extension of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in this world. Ministers, especially to whose trust the glorious Gospel of the blessed God is committed, should give themselves much to prayer that Christ may be formed in men the hope of glory. In endeavouring to speak briefly from these words let me call your attention to the following points:—
I. The persons to whom the words were addressed.
II. The charge itself which was given to them.
III. Two or three inferences to be drawn from it.
I. The persons addressed. The slightest consideration shows that the Lord did not speak these words indiscriminately to all, for it is obvious that those who have no concern about their own eternal welfare can not feel any interest in the extension of the Kingdom of Christ and the welfare of the souls of others. It was to His disciples that the Lord spoke—those whom He had chosen and ordained that they should go and bring forth fruit, and who, under the guidance of the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, are to “bear witness because they had been with Him from the beginning.” Preparation was needed by those to whom this command was given, and this is pointed out in the words just quoted as a being with Christ. This intercourse with Him is of such a nature that it manifests itself. Thus we read in the Acts of the Apostles that “when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they took knowledge of those that they had been with Jesus.”—Acts iv. 13. It thus appears that there are distinguishing features of character in those who have been permitted to be with Him. An entire change must have passed over them and marked them out as different from others. Intercourse with Him cannot but be followed by likeness to Him, and the closer the intercourse the greater the likeness. This will appear in all parts of their walk and conversation; but not to dwell at length on this, notice two features in which this likeness is manifested. One prominent characteristic of the Lord Jesus was His deep humility. Though He was the creator of all things and “without Him was not anything made that was made,” yet we read that “He humbled Himself, and made Himself of no reputation,” on which account it is said that “God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name that is above every name.” This very marked feature of character may well be expected to appear in those who hold fellowship with Him, and, indeed, He requires it of all His followers in the command He gives. “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls.” None can be with Him then who do not more or less possess this qualification.
Another feature of character in the Saviour was His zeal for God. This was predicted of Him in the Psalm—”The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up”—and fulfilled, as the Evangelist shows, when He made a scourge of small cords and drove the money changers and those that sold doves out of the Temple. This zeal will appear in some degree in His own people, and many instances are recorded in Scripture, as in the case of Elijah when he fled from Jezebel; “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword.” From which we learn that where grace is there is a disposition to grieve for the wickedness that is done in the land and to be greatly concerned to see the cause of God advanced. Thus, then, those whom the Lord called to this duty were in some measure fitted to discharge it, having “received out of His fulness even grace for grace.” Like Jacob they had some qualification for wrestling with God in prayer.
II. In the second place, let us look at the nature of the charge the Lord laid on His disciples. This may be viewed both generally and particularly.
1. Generally as a call to prayer.
This is a duty that is very frequently enforced in Scripture, and one which believers in all ages have prized and found essential to a life of faith in the Son of God. The moment the Holy Spirit convinced them of sin and showed them their exposure to the wrath of the Most High, they betook themselves to this duty and will never cease to engage in it as long as they live, unless it is for a time under some strong temptation. It is a gift bestowed upon them, and, like all their graces, they must trade with it that their stock may be increased. Every one has received some talents, some more, some less; but whatever the measure bestowed they must take care not to lay it up in a napkin, but give their “Lord’s money to the exchanges, that at his coming he may receive his own with usury.” The way to increase grace is to employ it and lay it out for God. Now, as all grace comes from God, His own require to entreat Him that He would grant them more according to his own promise—”Ask and ye shall receive.” Thus they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is the great storehouse and out of His fulness they must receive, else they will be poor indeed. Oh what a sad spectacle is a prayerless person, and yet it is to be feared that there are a vast number of prayerless persons in this great city and throughout the land. This is but too evident from the open disregard of the Sabbath day which one witnesses on all hands and the denial of the authority of God that is so often expressed. All this may well call forth our deepest compassion for poor perishing souls, and stir up all who love the Lord to do what they can for their salvation. But what is to be thought of those who, set apart to the office of the ministry, seldom or never are found on their knees interceding with God on behalf of their fallen fellow-creatures? Their hypocrisy may not be detected in this world but assuredly it will not pass the day of judgment, and sad indeed will be the eternity of all such.
As the work in which they are engaged is God’s, it is manifest that the true messengers of Christ must seek their directions from Him; they must wait upon Him for His guidance and seek the message that they should deliver. They are not to run at their own charges, but to perform the work given them in the strength received from Him. They may expect to meet with many difficulties—with much that will discourage them and occasion many fears at times that failure may attend all they do. They may be defamed, their motives questioned, and the greater their faithfulness to the truth of God, the greater will be the obliquity cast upon them. Now their only recourse is to betake themselves to Him who hath sent them on this warfare, and seek from Him grace to endure reproach and shame for His sake. “He is a very present help in time of trouble” to all who wait upon Him.
2. Particularly.—The charge is definite.
A particular subject of prayer is given them. They are to “pray the Lord of the heavens that he would send forth labourers into his harvest,” and that on the ground that the harvest is plenteous but the labourers few. We ought ever to have a distinct object in our approaches to the throne of grace, else our prayers will be vague. In the charge which the Lord has given to His disciples He calls them to be specially concerned about the interests of His kingdom on earth. While His people are to be much occupied about their own state, they are at the same time to manifest an unselfish concern for the Lord’s cause.
Let me notice two things in connection with this command. (1) It teaches that God has reserved in His own hands the right of sending forth labourers into His harvest—those who are to be instrumental in advancing His cause in the world. But His people are to be co-workers with Him, so that while the Church is to exercise the utmost care in preparing and qualifying, so far as that lies in her power, those she sets apart to this work, she must at the same time use all diligence in seeking the guidance of the Lord Himself, and thus express her consciousness of her inability of herself to discriminate with certainty those who are called of God. From this we may see the pride of those churches which arrogate to themselves the sole right and power of setting apart men to this work by the laying on of the hands of their Bishops. When we find the Lord charging His own disciples in this way, and never giving them the slightest hint that they should rely on their own judgment, it surely manifests much pride on the part of those who claim this right. Nor does the Lord here teach that there is such a thing as apostolical succession; indeed His language rather implies the reverse. If His words mean anything they mean that God alone holds in His own power the raising up and fitting of those who are to be engaged in this great work apart from any connection with others.
(2) We may notice further here that there is danger of neglecting this duty. The purest churches are apt to grow remiss. The natural carnality of the heart is prone to assert itself, and hence the necessity of being called to this duty again and again. Were there no danger of this, the Lord had not needed to exhort His disciples and through them the Church in all ages to bestir themselves in this exercise. Faithfulness, then, to Him demands this, the interests of his cause in the world require it, and the welfare of our own souls calls for it. If the kingdom of Christ is to be advanced it must surely be by the faithful adherence to the rules laid down in His Word. The more closely these are followed the more likely is He to give His blessing, which alone can give the increase. With what care the Lord scrutinises the conduct of His Church we learn from the epistles addressed to the seven churches of Asia. In many of them He had a few things against them, and His words to them may well lead all churches that value the presence and favour of the Lord to deep searchings of heart. Our safety lies in walking humbly with God, ever bearing in mind that His eye is upon us and that He is much displeased when there is the least departure from the faith once delivered to the saints. When the Church begins to grow remiss in regard to this duty, and indifferent or at least not much concerned about the character of those who are sent forth by her on this important work, she gives evidence of degeneracy, and her usefulness in the cause of God is no longer to be looked for.
3. Another point taught by this command of the Saviour is that this work does not consist in the mere gathering together of large numbers into a church organisation.
Something far higher and more important than that is manifestly intended by the Saviour. Were that all it would not be necessary to refer the work entirely into the hands of God. There is no difficulty in attracting multitudes to whatever professes to be a religious order, no matter how far it may deviate from the rule of God’s Word. Our own day is witness of the facility with which many persons follow the most extravagant pretensions of bold and arrogant leaders. What Christ requires and exhorts His disciples to pray for is the spiritual progress of His Church in this world. It was for this He died, and for the carrying on of this work He is seated on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens and for which He ever liveth to make intercession. All else He severely condemns, as in case of the Church of Sardis: “These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, I know thy work that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent.”
Still further this exhortation teaches us that a peculiar emphasis is laid on this duty and that His servants are to give themselves to it with the utmost devotedness. No less a matter is involved in it than the spreading abroad of the knowledge of that great and glorious work of redemption wrought out by the Lord Jesus in His adorable person as God and man in two distinct natures. The mind of the Holy One had been set upon this great work from all eternity. For four thousand years the world was being gradually instructed in its nature and design to prepare it for the coming of the Son of Man, and was shown thereby the estimation in which the Father regarded it. It was the undoing of the wrong done to God by the fatal apostacy of our first parents, wonderfully manifesting the glory of His grace and the bringing in of a better hope to guilty creatures that they might be saved with an everlasting salvation.
The bodily presence of their Lord was soon to be taken from them, and the hearts of the disciples might be ready to sink into despair; the Lord therefore by the call encouraged them to persevere in the work, since their Heavenly Father was so concerned in it that He would take care that suitable men would be sent forth. I have not selected this passage from the slightest hope of setting before you, brethren, any fresh views upon it, but simply because we are instructed to provoke unto love and to good works, and it seemed a suitable subject for stirring us all up to renewed diligence, at a time when true religion is obviously at so low an ebb, to plead with Him who alone can advance His own cause, without the forthputting of whose power all effort must be in vain.
III. In the last place let me notice two things that may be fairly deduced from this call of the Saviour.
(1) Since we have seen that God highly values this work, then surely he puts a high honour upon all those whom He calls to engage in it. They become fellow-workers with Him, for while the whole power is His, He greatly honours His servants by employing them as instruments for the carrying on of the work. Have we not cause then to lament the coldness of our endeavours to advance His cause? Where are the zeal and diligence that were seen in former days in this land? The general indifference that prevails so largely in the present day is apt to have a depressing and weakening effect on even those who are truly concerned to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Oh, let us be bold in His cause, and strive more and more to obtain of His infinite mercy clearer views of His excellency, so that it may be sweet to us to do His will. The words of the Lord to His disciples form a rebuke to all indifference. It is an earnest, self-denying ministry that may be expected to receive the blessing from on high. “Let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” In order to this how earnestly ought we to seek after much nearness to God. It is thus we shall be lifted up in His ways. No difficulties shall then be allowed to stand in our way. Our one concern will be that we might finish our course with joy and the ministry which we have received of the Lord Jesus.
(2) Another thing I notice is the force of the word here used and translated “send forth.” It is very emphatic in the original and signifies to send out with force. It is thus rendered in Luke iv. 29, where it is said that all they in the synagogue were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust Him out of the city. This expression therefore implies that they who are called of God to this work have much fear in entering upon it. It was thus with Moses when God sent him to deliver the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. It was so in the case of Jeremiah when sent to be a prophet to the people. Those therefore who enter upon this work in a right spirit feel how solemn a matter it is to go forth as an ambassador for Christ beseeching men to be reconciled to God. And as those two eminent saints to whom I have just referred manifested so diffident a spirit, we may say that those who can enter upon this work without fear are not called of God to it. Nor is it surprising that any should fear to enter upon this work, for it is for God, and therefore great. This was the feeling of Nehemiah when building the wall of Jerusalem, for what was his answer to Sanballat and Geshem when they wanted him to meet with them? “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”
Lastly. This command of Christ seems fitted to encourage the Church when in a low and depressed condition. At such a time it is ready to say with Amos, “O Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small?” Fears may then be entertained that God has withdrawn Himself and that no success can attend her efforts. She may be few in number and weak in other ways; there may be very few boldly standing forth in defence of the Truth, so that in the estimation of her members she may seem exceedingly weak. My text, however, shows us that the Lord of the harvest has His eye upon her, and as He rules in heaven and in earth surely greater must He be that is for her than all that can be against her. She has no ground therefore for despair, and instead of desponding she is called upon to betake herself with the greater diligence to Him who is the Lord of the harvest that in His own time and way He would send forth labourers into His harvest.
The Battle of the Boyne.
Mr. F. H. O’Donnell, the author of “the Ruin of Education in Ireland,” has written a notable letter to a Belfast newspaper regarding the above event. He asserts the victory of King William to have been a stroke on behalf of civil and religious liberty that has benefitted even Roman Catholics. The letter, in pamphlet form, price one penny, can be had from the publisher of the F.P. Magazine.