Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 9 · Section 7
Cauſes why ſo few labourers.
1 Love of eaſe; whereas much ſtudy is a wearineſs to the fleſh, Eccleſ. 12.12. Offer not that to God which coſts thee nothing.
2 Inability of hearers to difference betwixt doctrine and doctrine, hence ſuperficial, raw, indigeſted notions are as well or better liked then ſolid and ſubſtantial truths.
3 The diſcouragement that Preachers in many places finde; every man elſe is incouraged but they diſcouraged, partly from the cenſures that paſs upon their doctrine, and partly from ſtrait-handedneſs. Every calling, as Phyſician, Lawyer is rewarded, onelyonly what preachers have in many places is counted as alms, hence there are but few labourers, and were it not for conſcience towards God there would be much fewer.
4 The ſtrictneſs of the account, that they muſt anſwer for the ſouls committed to them, Ezek. 5.17. Heb. 13.17. Act. 20.26, 27.
5 The multitude of buſineſs that lyes upon a faithful labourer. What a buſineſs is it to make one ſoul lye level upon Chriſt? ſometimes full of fears and doubts for want of comfort, ſometimes falling into ſpiritual pride in the enjoyment of it, ſometimes wraſtling with an angry God, ſometimes conflicting with a ſcrupulous conſcience, ſometimes a ſoul thinks all he hath done is in vain, and that he is caſt out of Gods ſight, Pſal. 31.22. One wants knowledge, another comfort, another reproof; one is a babe, another a grown man. Now the work being ſo weighty, few that know the weight of it are forward to venture on it, it being a burden too heavy for the ſhoulders of Angels.
Cyprian complained in his time that perſons would not take the over ſight of flocks, but perſons betook themſelves to be Merchants,Hiſtory of Trent. &c. rather then to be thus employed. After his time the miniſters by reaſon of perſecution were ſo few, that neceſſity compel'd to commend two or three congregations to one paſtor, whence came the corrupt cuſtome of Commendums.
Preaching is counted the eaſieſt buſineſs (and as many uſe it ſo it is) but to preach that our words may be as goads to the dull Ox, and as nails to the faſtening of inſtructions, Eccl. 12.11. to be like a good houſholder that brings forth new and old, Matth. 13.52. to ſearch into the deep things of God, and to follow a mans work there, where he left it, till a ſpiritual building be erected, who is ſufficient for theſe things?
V. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harveſt that he would ſend forth (or in the Greek, caſt forth) labourers into his harveſt.
Chriſt here propounds a remedy for the want above mentioned, viz. to pray to the Lord of the harveſt, &c. Chriſt hereby not onelyonly informes us of the backwardneſs of men herein, but alſo pricks on the Apoſtles and others to accept of ſuch a call.
Moreover here is ſignified not onelyonly a diſpoſing providence to ſend teachers to this or that place, but alſo a beſtowing of ſpecial power with peculiar commands and gifts, which well agrees with the call of the Apoſtles in the next chapter. As the Embaſſadors of Princes are directed to their reſidence, and their continuance determined by the Prince how long they ſhall remain, ſo are teachers diſpoſed of God in like manner. He carries them from one place to another, Jonah from Iſrael to Nineveh.
Pray ye the Lord of the harveſt] It's the Lords work to ſend forth labourers, Act. 1.24. Shew whether of theſe two thou haſt taken. The holy Ghoſt bad ſeparate Paul and Barnabas to the work, Act. 13.2. Yet prayer hath been a means to obtain ſuch teachers, to get them out of priſon, Act. 12.12, 13. to get them from one place to another, Philem. 22. I truſt that through your prayers I ſhall be given to you.
Strive we then to be fervent with God in prayer herein: as a faithful teacher is one of the greateſt bleſſings, ſo the contrary is a great curſe. We are earneſt with God for many other things, O ſtrive to be earneſt for this. But becauſe wants ſet an edge upon prayer, lay open before the Lord thy ſix or ſeven children, and three or four ſervants, who are yet in the ſtate of nature, nay there are thouſands in their conditions, and therefore for their ſakes come and help.