Baptists -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 19th century
Christian workers begin their harvest work by watching for signs of
faith in Christ. They are eager to see the blade, and delighted to mark
the ripening ear. They often hope that men are believers, but they long
to be sure of it; and when they judge that at last the fruit of faith is
put forth, they begin to encourage, to congratulate, and to comfort.
They know that the young believer needs to be housed in the barn of
Christian fellowship, that he may be saved from a thousand perils. No
wise farmer leaves the fruit of the field long exposed to the hail which
might beat it out, or to the mildew which might destroy it, or to the
birds which might devour it. Evidently no believing man should be left
outside of the garner of holy fellowship; he should be carried into the
midst of the church with all the joy which attends the home-bringing of
sheaves. The worker for Christ watches carefully, and when he discerns
that his time is come, he begins at once to fetch in the converts, that
they may be cared for by the brotherhood, separated from the world,
screened from temptation, and laid up for the Lord. He is diligent to do
it at once, because the text saith, "immediately he putteth in the
sickle." He does not wait for months in cold suspicion; he is not afraid
that he shall encourage too soon when faith is really present. He comes
with the word of promise and the smile of brotherly love at once, and he
says to the new believer, "Have you confessed your faith? Is not the
time come for an open confession? Hath not Jesus bidden the believer to
be baptized? If you love him, keep his commandments." He does not rest
till he has introduced the convert to the communion of the faithful. For
our work, beloved, is but half done when men are made disciples and
baptized. We have then to encourage, to instruct, to strengthen, to
console, and succor in all times of difficulty and danger. What saith
the Saviour? "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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