July 4

One soweth and another reapeth. - John 4:37.

WITH regard to incitements to diligence and zeal in the spiritual husbandry, we may ground an argument for them from the facility of exertion. There was a common saying in our Lord’s days, to the effect that some men often obtained advantages for which others had laboured. “One soweth and another reapeth;” and this, says our Lord, is true of the spiritual labourer. “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” This is to be understood as not having reference so much to the present instance of the interest manifested by the Samaritans, as applying to the labours of those holy men, Moses, the prophets, and John the Baptist, who had prepared the way of the Lord.

These had raised expectations of the Messiah, and described so fully his person, work, and sufferings, that the apostles only preached what they had prophesied. And this will apply to the Lord’s servants now. Those Christians who are engaged in rendering assistance to the Lord’s work are deriving great and unspeakable advantages from the labours of the apostles, and of their successors, the confessors and martyrs, ministers, and godly men, since their days. What reason have we to bless God for their writings! How thankful should we be for the translators of the Scriptures! What do we owe to their labours and sufferings! They resisted unto blood, striving against sin, and, by the loss of their lives, procured for us civil and religious liberty. Surely, other men have laboured, and we have entered into their labours.

This should encourage us. Men may be useful, though their names may not appear till after their death; and this should humble us, seeing that the success with which our efforts may be honoured is more derived from others who have preceded us, than ourselves,-perhaps in answer to their prayers, or in consequence of their labours.