The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 335

spii}hrnl harvest is infinitoly VRst, its lnbonr infinitely great, and agencies infinitely vnnous. IV. THE mPE)fESS OF TIIE IIA RVEST. "Look on the fields; for they are white," etc. 1. Whiteness is the colour of ripeness, the colour of the ripe corn. It is the colonr of hea,·cn. All is white there, for nil is ripe and perfect. Ripeness, when applied to souls here, is used relatively. Its full meaning must be realized hereafter. 2. Souls are ripe to harvest when they begin to manife.•t a genuine concern for their spiritual welfare. '£hen they begin to blush with the first colour of ripeness, and naturally call for har- vesting. 3. As in the natural harvest, so in the spiritual, some fields ripen more quickly than others. As in soils, so in souls, some bring forth fruit sooner than others. This was the case now in Samaria. as compared with Judiea and even Galilee, and it is ever so. 4. There is a difference between the natural harvest and the spiritual indicated here. (1) In the natural there is ever a certain stated period between the sowing and the reaping. In the East there was generally four mouths. But it is not invariably the case in the spiritual harvest. Thllre may be more than fo1H" months, and there may be less than so many hours. "The fields are white already." No sooner is the seed sown than it begins to germinate and grow. So it was in the Samaritan woman now, and others. (2) Men are entirely dependent on the appointed season of harvest. They cannot by any effort make it come a day sooner. It comes according to fixed laws. Not so the spiritual harvest. The servants of God, under him, may bring about a harvest of souls at any time. The Divine Spirit quickens and causes souls to grow and ripen through our earnest and faithful efforts. He blesses onr earnest labour, so that the spiritual harvest is not limited by seasons and climates, but is carried on continually as we labour. There are fields ever white to harvest. V. THE REWARD OF THE HAIIVEST. "Receiveth wages," etc. 1. The reward is partly present. Especially with regard to the reaper-in the fruit gathered, which is very precious; in the holy pleasure of doing the will of God, and saving souls. 2. The reward will be chiefly in the future. At the great harvest home. For the fruit is gathered unto life etemal. Every effort can only be fully rewarded at its final issues. 'l.'he final issue of spiritual harvesting is "eternal life," which can only be fully enjoyed in the future. 3. The reward of thefutm·e will consist of the highest and greatest happiness. Like the joy of the harvest. (1) The happiness of a perfect life. Spiritual life, "life eternal." Can a. man be happier than in the full enjoyment of all be can desire, and of all he is capable of? This will be reached in eternal life-the perfect ripeness of the soul, and the climax of being, the fulfilment of our sublimest hopes, and the reward of our best efforts with Divine interest. (2) 'fhe happiness of abundance. The thought of famine will be for ever buried in the consciousness of plenty. All the labourers in the harvest will be more than satisfied, and their satisfaction will leap into joy. (3) The happiness of safety. Like the joy of the harvest, when all the produce of the fidds is secured, there will be the joy of personal salvation, and the salvation of all. Let the storm rage, and the rain descend in torrents,-all will be safe and infinitely happy in consequence. (4) The happiness of gratitude. Gratitude to the great Lord of the harvest, fot all his defence and loving-kindness. After the "harvest home" there will be"the great thanksgiving service. And it will be quivering with happiness and singing with joy. 4. All will be rewarded. "He that soweth and he tba.t reapetb." Every one that bestowed any labour on the harvest will be remembered. Even the most insignificant labourer will not be overlooked. 5. All will be rewarded simultaneously. "He tha.t soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together"-together in time, in place, in mutual benefit and reciprocity. There will be no partiality, no disadvanta.ge, but as in the labour so in the joy of the harvest, every one shall help himselt' to the full. The lonely sower who ages ago sowed in tears without reaping scarcely any will suffer no disadvantage, but will be fully compensated-his joy will be all the more. Every one will be happy in himself and in others. All will be happy in the Lord of the harvest, the chief Sower and Reaper, end all will be happy in him. The joy of the redeemed throng will be really personal, but intensely mutual, so as to make one anthem of leaping joy. 6. The reward will be everlasting. 'l.'he fruit is gathered unto life eternal; and the happiness will be as eternal ns the life, as lasting as the fruit. The fear of its coming to: an end, even at the remotest period, shall never pass a.s a clL,ud over its bright disc, nor cnuse a discord in its ever,.harmonious nnd thrilling music.  200 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [en. rv. 1-54-.