1. In the event of good success —
[The work of God is here compared to a harvest, which a successful preacher may be said to reap. A man who reaps his field considers himself well repaid for his labour, because he lays up in his barns wealth which will support him through the year. But how much better is the Christian Minister repaid ! for he " gathers fruit unto life eternal." What he reaps, will be laid up in the granary of heaven, and will itself endure through eternal ages ; yea, and endure also as " his joy and crown of rejoicing " for evermore d. Were he to gather but one sheaf of corn, he would be richly recompensed for a whole life of labour: but if his efforts be crowned with a larger measure of success, he will have proportionable ground for joy and gratitude to all eternity6 ]
2. In the event of ill success —
[The man who sows his field may be disappointed in a variety of ways : an untoward season may destroy his crop ; or an invading enemy deprive him of it ; or death may arrest him before it is reaped. But the spiritual " sower shall rejoice together with the reaper," and have " his own reward according to his own labour*." " The Lord of the harvest will not suffer any one of his labourers to work for nought. In the very work itself he shall find a rich reward ; and " though Israel be not gathered, yet shall he who sought their welfare be glorious before the Lordg." Hosea prophesied for seventy years, and Isaiah fifty ; and both of them had reason to complain, " Who hath believed our report?" But are they therefore without a recompence ? No : What " they sowed, we reap : they laboured, and we have entered into their labours." And, as they shall participate our joy, so shall we the joy of those who shall reap what we have sown.]
Let us then,
1. Be on our watch, to do all the good we can —
[Our blessed Lord was sitting weary by a well-side : yet, when an opportunity afforded itself of instructing the Sama- ritan woman, he embraced it, accounting it " his meat to do the will of him that sent himh." And who would have thought that such effects should flow from that single conversation? So it may be with us. We make many attempts apparently in vain : but who can tell what one single act of benevolence
d 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20.
e Here the blessedness of " those who are saved" may be opened, together with its aspect on the happiness of " those who save them." 1 Tim. iv. 16.
f 1 Cor. hi. 8. s Isai. xlix. 5. h ver. 6, 14, 24, 34.