605. JOH 4:35, JOH 4:36. THE FIELDS WHITE TO HARVEST
Joh_4:35, Joh_4:36. The Fields White to Harvest
By Rev. Daniel Wilson, D. D., Bishop Of Calcutta.
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I day unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."’97Joh_4:35, Joh_4:36.
The text was spoken when the disciples, during the absence of the Samaritan woman, had urged to partake of the provisions which they had procured. Our Lord, in reply to their solicitations, described his ardent zeal for the salvation of souls, which the prospect of instructing the Samaritans had excited, as supplying the want of bodily food: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work," Joh_4:34. And then he addressed them in the words of the text, with the design of leading their minds from the natural harvest, which was still four months distant, and of which they had probably been discoursing as they passed through the fields, just springing with the tender blade, to a spiritual harvest, which was already ripe for the sickle; and to excite them, after his example, to that activity in teaching and saving mankind, which the husbandman manifests when the corn is ready for the garner.
The spirit of the passage, then, is obviously to animate the reaper to enter into the harvest, from the consideration of the ripeness of the whitening grain. And it will therefore afford me an occasion of bringing before you various motives to redoubled efforts in the cause of missions, now that opportunities of diffusing the gospel are opening upon us from every quarter. In considering this subject, as represented by the striking image of my text, we must look first at the aspect of the fields; and, secondly, at the encouragements held out to the reaper.
I. We must look at the aspect of the fields.
When our Lord uttered these words, he had immediate respect to the Samaritans. It wanted, at that time, four months to the harvest of the earth. But, if the disciples would "lift up their eyes, and look on the fields," across which the inhabitants of Sychar were hastening at the tidings of the woman, and whom our Saviour probably pointed at with his finger when he spake, they would behold a spiritual harvest, not merely shooting up its early blade, but now ripe for their labor; they would see people coming with eagerness, to hear and receive the doctrine of salvation.
Our Lord had respect also, in this language, to the general state of the Jewish nation, and of the world. The time of God’s mercy was then near. The faith of the pious servants of God among the Jews, had welcomed the "Consolation of Israel." The general expectation of the people was fixed on his character and doctrine. But the whole civilized world was also, in a considerable measure, in a like state. Thus things were ripening for the harvest; and the apostles were soon to go forth as reapers into that vastly more extensive field of labor.
The spirit of our Lord’s address, however, is applicable generally to all periods of the church, when the providence of God concurs with his grace, to present remarkable opportunities for diffusing the gospel. For when facilities are afforded for disseminating Divine truth; when these facilities are embraced with suitable activity on the part of the spiritual church; and when, above all, a disposition to inquire into Christianity appears among the heathen nations, then the fields may be said to stand loaded with corn, demanding the hand of the reaper. For, if you cast your eye over the different parts of the heathen world, you will find,
1. That in most places there is evidently a preparation in the minds of both Pagans and Mohammedans for receiving the servants of Christ.
In the vast continent of India’97the most promising scene for missionary labor’97we are credibly informed by those who have been eye-witnesses of what they relate, that the native mind is obviously opening to receive the gospel.
In Persia, on the one side of India; and in China on the other’97opportunities have offered for extending the knowledge of the word of God.
If, from hence, we pass to the countless islands of the Southern Ocean, it is peculiarly animating to read the accounts of what the providence and grace of God are effecting in those newly-discovered regions. In some of them, large bodies of men have renounced their idols; and received the doctrine of salvation.
The immense territory of New Holland also, and the neighboring islands of New Zealand’97the latter under our own Society’97are opening to the Christian teacher.
I will not detain you by particularizing what is doing in the two American continents, and the West Indies; but I will merely stop, and ask whether this rapid view, which we have taken, be not highly encouraging to redoubled exertion? But it may here be asked,
2. What are the peculiar advantages which pious and zealous Christians in Britain enjoy for extending the gospel?
Here, then, I would first inquire, whether the circumstance of so large a part of the heathen world being subject to the British sceptre, or bordering on its possessions, be not, in itself, a remarkable advantage to our cause. Where can you look, from 100 degrees in the remote West, to Norfolk Island, in the East; or from the Shetlands in the North, to 33 degrees south of the Line: that is, over 270 degrees of longitude, and 94 of latitude, or nearly 20,000 miles, by 6 or 7,000, without seeing parts of that dominion which God has intrusted to this Protestant country? Why is it that such large and important additions have been made to its territory during the last few years’97additions which would, of themselves, constitute a great empire?
3. But the disposition among the heathen to receive the gospel, and the facilities which we possess for diffusing it, would be insufficient, unless the activity of the spiritual church were awake to improve the occasion. This is, then, the third point, which marks the present period, and contributes to make up the aspect of the ripened field.
By the spiritual church, I mean the invisible and mystical body of true Christians in this country, who hold Christ as the Head, are vitally united to him by his Spirit, and obey his laws; though they may differ in minor points of doctrine and discipline. This body is diligently occupying the post assigned to it. Christians, of almost every class, are exerting their efforts to seize the golden opportunity. Various Societies have been formed’97correspondence opened with suitable persons abroad’97information circulated at home’97appeals made to the public conscience’97and missionary stations selected and occupied in heathen countries.
II. Encouragements held out to the reapers.
These encouragements, then, we shall now proceed further to consider, after we have first explained the nature of the labor with which they are connected. The labor of the spiritual reaper consists in preaching the gospel of Christ to perishing sinners; and in achieving those services, and enduring those privations, which, in a heathen country, are inseparable from so arduous an employment.
His main duty is, to set before men the doctrine of the cross of Christ, in all its bearings. This is the appointed means of gathering in the spiritual harvest.
But, great as is the toil of such devoted servants of Christ, the encouragement held out to them is more than commensurate.’97"He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit to life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."
1. The important good, which the Christian missionary effects, is, that he gathers fruit to life eternal.
And what an inspiring motive is this! If the earthly harvest-man is animated by the thought, that he is collecting the blessing of the year, and gathering fruit for the support of temporal life; how much more will the spiritual reaper be cheered by the reflection, that every soul which he is the means of turning from the error of his ways, is fruit gathered to life eternal! But this is not all.
2. The abundant reward which awaits him, when the toil is finished, is a further incentive to persevering labor.
"He that reapeth receiveth wages,"’97not indeed of merit,’97for he is, at last, but an unprofitable servant: all that he has done, which has been good, has come from the grace of God,’97but of Divine mercy; wages that his Lord has engaged to give after the harvest is over, which will bear a proportion to the measure of the work done, and to which he is encouraged to look forward, to support and animate him when ready, through sloth and self-indulgence, to faint under his toil; that thus, like Moses, he may endure, "having respect unto the recompense of the reward." Great is his reward in heaven. When he rests from his labors, his works do follow him, Rev_14:13.
His wages are sure. All who have joined in the work shall partake of the reward. They may differ from one another in abilities, and education, and cast of mind; in opinion on smaller matters, in the extent of the stations allotted them, and in the success granted to their labors: but they shall all hear, at last, those blessed words, "Well done! good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," Mat_25:21. With this joy the reaper’s reward is connected; for, together with his wages, he shall have a peculiar satisfaction and triumph. "He that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together."
(1.) This common joy began when the holy apostles, having finished their labors, were taken to receive their reward. Then the patriarchs and prophets, who had been sowing for so many ages, joined them in the strain of triumph, at the gathering in of the first evangelical harvest.
(2.) This joy has been increasing, as the several sowers and repears, in different ages of the New Testament church, have been taken to their eternal rest.
(3.) It will be completed when all the church shall meet before the throne; when the mystery of Christ shall be finished; when God shall have accomplished the number of his elect, and have hastened his kingdom.
Application
If such, then, be the encouragement to us to enter on those fields which we have seen to be white for harvest, it remains only, in drawing to conclusion, that, according to the command of our Saviour, we "lift up our eyes, and look on the fields," and apply ourselves without delay to the work.
1. "Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields"’97shows the necessity of rousing men from their torpor, and directing them to the actual state of mankind.
2. And shall not these emotions of surprise and pleasure lead you to redoubled exertion? Will you not enter into the fields? Did ever such an exuberant crop wave over the lands? Was ever our Protestant church invited to such a scene of labor? And, surely, that church, the glory of the Reformation, will not be backward in such a crisis!
3. But for these ends we must be led, as our Saviour in another and. similar passage instructs us, to fervent prayer to the Lord of the harvest, who is so abundantly able to prosper our endeavor. He can send forth the laborers. He can qualify them for the work. He can sustain them under their fatigue, cheer them when they faint, grant them success, and bestow on them their reward. He can do all this for us; while, without this mighty aid, our utmost efforts must fail.
4. Nor is it a slight recommendation of the measures to which your attention is now called, that zealous exertions in the behalf of missions, accompanied with the spirit of prayer’97of habitual, fervent supplication to God, for our own and all other Societies engaged in this great design’97will also have the happy effect of materially furthering our own salvation. No one can touch this sacred cause, much less engage in it with a spirit of prayer, but it will promote his individual piety!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS