The calls for laborers, from all parts of the field, are many, and very urgent. O, that the church would raise one united cry to heaven, to the Lord of the harvest, to raise up and fully qualify men to sound the last note of warning in the ears of perishing souls, while mercy’s hour lingers. O, where are the shepherds to search out and feed the starving flock?
A year or two since, and those who taught the “commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” had to go sometimes a hundred miles to instruct one person. But a great change has taken place. The field, then closed up, is fast opening, the Spirit of God is moving upon many to investigate, and calls come from all quarters for some one to come and present the evidences of our position. But many call in vain; for there is no one to be spared, who is qualified to go and preach the word to them. And it is a painful fact that many of the starving flock, instead of having a shepherd to hunt them up, and feed them, are hunting in vain for a shepherd to lead them to the green pastures of present truth.
Dear brethren, are we as a people keeping pace with the opening providence of God? Are we fully awake to our whole duty? And do we realize the responsibilities resting upon us? It is to be feared that many do not realize what God requires at our hands. To us, he has entrusted the work of teaching and, by holy lives, enforcing the great truths of the last merciful message. Are we doing all we can in this great work? Are we living holy lives, such as will impress those around us, that God is with us of a truth? Are we doing our whole duty to those among us, who are called of God to preach the word?
There could hardly be a greater curse come upon the cause, than for men with little experience, little piety, destitute of judgment in spiritual things, to go out to teach the truth, and undertake to point souls to heaven. The Lord save us from the results of such a course. But are there not brethren among us, that are evidently called of God to the work, who are bound at home? Or, if they go out, are more or less bound in spirit, by reason of their temporal wants? Many of our brethren are fully awake to their duty, and our preaching brethren are generally fully supplied with means. Some, perhaps, have been injured by a too free reception of means. But we feel deeply for a few who are crippled in their labors for want of means. Brethren, it is your duty to inquire into the wants of those among you who speak to you the word of the Lord, and see that when they go out to preach, their spirits are not bowed down with the weight of temporal wants and cares.
And to our dear brethren, who feel called to give themselves to the work of preaching the word, we would say, toil on a little longer. The reward, O, the rich reward, is just before you. Trust, for ever trust in the “Lord of the harvest” to sustain you in your arduous labors. Remember, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. cxxvi, 6.