Baptists -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 19th century
We conclude by saying that _this advance is a lesson to us_; for we,
too, are to go forward. "Doth the ploughman plough all day?" No, he
ploughs to sow, and in due time he sows. Some churches seem to think
that all they have to do is to plough; at least, all they attempt is a
kind of scratching of the soil, and talking of what they are going to
do. It is fine talk, certainly; but doth the ploughman plough all day?
You may draw up a large programme and promise great things; but pray do
not stop there. Don't be making furrows all day; do get to your sowing.
I fancy that those who promise most perform the least. Men who do much
in the world have no programme at first, their course works itself out
by its own inner force by the grace of God; they do not propose but
perform. They do not plough all day to sow, but they are like our Lord's
servant in the parable of whom he saith, "the sower went forth to sow."
Let the ministers of Christ also follow the rule of advance. _Let us go
from preaching the law to preaching the gospel._ "Doth the ploughman
plough all day?" He does plough; he would not sow in hope if he had not
first prepared the ground. Robbie Flockart, who preached for years in
the Edinboro' streets, says, "It is in vain to sew with the silk thread
of the gospel, unless you use the sharp needle of the law." Some of my
brethren do not care to preach eternal wrath and its terrors. This is a
cruel mercy, for they ruin souls by hiding from them their ruin. If they
must needs try to sew without a needle, I cannot help it; but I do not
mean to be so foolish myself; my needle may be old-fashioned, but it is
sharp, and when it carries with it the silken thread of the gospel, I am
sure good work is done by it. You cannot get a harvest if you are afraid
of disturbing the soil, nor can you save souls if you never warn them of
hell fire. We must tell the sinner what God has revealed about sin,
righteousness, and judgment to come. Still, brethren, we must not plough
all day. No, no, the preaching of the law is only preparatory to the
preaching of the gospel. The stress of our business lies in proclaiming
glad tidings. We are not followers of John the Baptist, but of Jesus
Christ; we are not rugged prophets of woe, but joyful heralds of grace.
Be not satisfied with revival services, and stirring appeals, but preach
the doctrines of grace so as to bring out the full compass of covenant
truth. Ploughing has had its turn, now for planting and watering.
Reproof may now give place to consolation. We are first to make
disciples of men, and then to teach them to observe all things
whatsoever Jesus has commanded us. We must pass on from the rudiments to
the higher truths, from laying foundations to further upbuilding.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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