God Let None of His Words Fall to the Ground
Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words
fEhll to the ground.** — 1 Sam. iii. 19.
It has long been a matter of sad and solemn inquiry to me, what is the cause of the little success that attends the preaching of the Gospel in our day, and, in particular, in my own parish. Many reasons have risen up before me.
1. There are reasons in ministers. (1.) The flocks are too large to be cared for by the shepherd. My own flock is just four times the size a flock used to be in the days of our Others; so that I am called upon to do the work of four ministers, and am left like Issachar, couching down between two burdens. (2.) Again, there is litUe union in prayer amongst ministers. Heartburnings, and jealousies, and cold suspicions, seem to put a sad bar m the way to this 80 necessary union. (3.) Again, comparing ministers now with ministers long ago, it is to be feared there is not that longing for the conversion of their people which there used to be — little weeping between the porch and the altar — little wrestling with God in secret for a blessing on the Word — little trarailing in birth till Christ be formed in their people the hope of glory. It is said of the excellent Alleine that he was “infinitely, insatiably greedy of the conversion of souls.” It is to be feared there is little of this greediness now. Matthew Henry used to say: ^’ I would think it a greats happiness to gam one soul to Christ, than mountains of silver and gold to myself.” We haye few Matthew Henrys now. Samuel Rutherford used to say to his flock: “My witness is above, that your heaven would be two heavens to me; and the salvation of you all as two salvations to me.”* O that God would give us something of this Spirit now!
2. There are reasons in Christians. (1.) There seems little appetite for the Word among Christians. I do not mean at there is Utile hearing — oh, no — this is an age for
* fiobert BTae9 — JobB WeWL^JUvtvalistj No. 74.
hearing sermons; but there is little hearing the Word for all that. ‘One says: I am of Paul; and another, I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” You come to hear the word of man, but not the word of Gkpd. You go away judging and criticising, instead of laying it to heart. Q% for the time when Christians, like new born babes, would desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they might grow thereby! (2.) Little prayer. Two farmers possessed two fields that lay next each other. The one had rich crops — the other very scanty ones. ^’ How comes it,** said the one to the other, ^’ that your field bears so well, and mine so poorly, when my land is as good as yours?” “Why, neighbour,” said the other, “the reason is this — you only sow your field, but I both sow mine and harrow in the seed.” Just so, my dear friends, there is little fiiiit among Christians, because there is little harrowing in by prayer. I think I could name many Christians among you who do not know one another, and never pray one with another. What wonder that there is little fruit!
3. Reasons in unconverted. (1.) There is much keeping away from the house of God. I suppose there are at least a thousand persons in my parish who never enter the house of God. Ah! how shall we catch these souls, when they keep so far from the net? (2.) Again, many come only in the afternoons. The very souls that have most need to hear are those who come but once. How do you expect a work of God, when you cast such open contempt upon his ordinance? (3.) Again, how many keep out of die way when we visit in your houses, lest some word should strike upon your conscience, and you should convert and be healed! How often, when I preach in your houses, do I find ten women for every man! Have the men no souls, that they keep away from God’s holy ordinance? (4.) Again, there is an awful profaning of the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper. The whole Bible declares that they are intended only for those who have been born again; yet, how many rush forward to them with mad and daring hand, drawing down the curse of a seared conscience and a stony heart!
These are painful truths — enough to break the heart of any Christian man that labours among you. Ah! where is the wonder that God should be a stranger in the land, and like a wayfaring man, that turns aside to tarry for a night? And yet this word comes like a beam of sunshine in a storm — God be praised for it! — “Samuel grew, and the Lord was wiib him, and did let none of bis words fall to the ground.” Samuel was yomig in years, and it pleased God to cast him in days just as wicked as ours; and how did God enoanrage him? In two ways. Ist God was with him. — God stood at his right hand, so that he could not be moved. 2i Qod did let none of bis words fall to the ground. May the Lord give us both these encouragments this day!
Doctrine. — God will not let one word of his ministers fiiU to the ground.
I. 2%tf Word often works visihly.
In most cases a work of grace is very visible. L When the ^irit awakens a soul to know its lost condition, there are very generally evident marks of awakening. The jailer trembled, and sprung in, and fell down, and said: “What must I do to be saved?” So it is commonly. This is not to be wondered at. If a man be in danger of losing all his money, or his wife, or child, he will often weep, and tremble, and wring the hands, and cry, Woe is me, I am undone. And is there less cause for weeping and trembling, if a man be in danger of losing his own soul? 2. When die soul is brought to peace, there is in general an evident change. ^’ The woman stood behind Christ’s feet weeping. &9ie washed them with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed them.” So it is commonly. The bosom is brought to rest — the eyes are filled with tears of joy — there is a lively attendance on the Word of God — an exultation in siuging his praises — the Sabbath is now plainly honoured and kept holy — sinful companions are forsaken. Ah! my dear friends, it is my heart’s desire and prayer, that these outward marks of a work of grace wei:e more common in the midst of you. I fear there can be no extensive work of grace, where these are wanting.
II. The Word may he working unseen.
In some cases the work of grace is quite invisible. I believe that God, for wise reasons, sometimes carries on a work of grace in the heart, secretly and unknown to all the world but to himself. There are three things make me think so: —
1. Christ compared the kingdom of heaven in the heart to leaven and to seed: ^’ The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened.” Now, you knoyi that the process of leaTening goes on a long time in the heart of the meal quite nnseen; so may the work of grace. Again: So is the kingdom of God as if a man would cast seed into the gromi and shoold sleep, and rise n and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, be knoweth not how.” — Mark iv. 6. Now 70a know the growing of the seed beneath the dod is all unseen; so is it often with the work of grace.
2. Who is the workman in conversion? It is the Spint of God. Now he works unseen, like the wind: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it ] goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit’’ He wodd like the dew: I will be as the dew unto Israel.” Now, no man ever yet heard the dew falling. He works like the well. “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life.” If the Spirit work so secretly, no wonder if his work is sometimes unseen.
3. So it has been in fact: Elijah cried, “I, even I, am left alone.” How surprised was he to find seyen thousand who had never bowed the knee to Baal! So shall it be in the latter day: “Then shalt thou say in thine heart. Who hath begotten me these, seeing I haye lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold I was left alone; these where had they been?” — Isa. xlix. 21.
Encouragement to godly parents and teachers and ministers. I know some of you have long been watching for a work of grace in your children’s hearts. Learn this day that God will not let one word fall to the ground. His word shall not return to him void. But you say, Alas! I see no marks of grace. Go to the dough when the leaven has been thrust in, and it is covered up. Do you see any marks of leavening? No, not one. Still the work is going on beneath. So it may be in your child. Go to the field when the seed has been covered in. Do you see any marks of growing? No, not a green speck. Still the work is going on. Turn up the clod, and you will see the seed sprouting. Have patience; weary not in well-doing. Be instant in prayer. God will be faithful to his promise. He will not let one word fidl to the ground.
HI. The Word may take effect another day.
1. It is a curious fact in natural histoiy, that seeds may be preserred for almost any length of time. Seeds that hare been kept in a drawer for many years, yet, when sown in their proper season, have been known to spring up, as if they bad been but a year old. So it may sometimes be with the seeds of grace. They may be kept long in the soul without in the least affecting it, and yet may be watered by the Spirit, and grow up many days after.
2. In general it is not so. It is the testimony of an old difine, who was indeed a master in la-ael: That the main benefit obtained by preaching is, by impression made upon die mind at the time, and not by remembering what was ddirered.’’ * And what says die Scripture: Is not my Wioid like as a fire, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces P Now you know that if the fire bums not irhen it is applied, it will not bum afterwards. If the rock does not break when the hammer strikes, it is not likely to break afterwards. Ok! my dear friends, to-day, while it is nlled to-day, harden not your hearts. If your hearts do not break under the hammer to-day, I fear they will never break. If they melt not now, under the fire of his lore, [ fear they will never melt
3. In some cases, the Word takes effect another day. One faithful man of God laboured in his parish for many a long year; and though greatly blessed elsewhere, yet dliedvrimout, I believe, knowing one of his people brought to the knowledge ofihe Saviour. Another servant now stands in his room; and souls have been gathered in in crowds, svery one declaring that it is the word of thdr departed ittinist that comes up into their heart, and makes them lee. Ah I God is a faithful God. He will not let any of kis words fall to the ground.
The excellent John Flavel was minister of Dartmouth, in Bn^and. One day he preached firom these words: “If my man love not die Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anahona maranatha.” The discourse was unusually solemn — * xurticalarly the explanation of the curse. At the condu-Bon, when Mr Flavel rose to pronounce the blessing, he Mmsed, and said: ‘^ How shall I bless this whole assembly, whea every person in it who loves not the Lord Jesus is mathema maranatha?** The solemnity of this address leeply affected the audience. In the congregation was a lad named Luke ^lort, about fifteen years old, a native of
* Edwards, SH.
Dartmouth. Shortly after he went to lea and anU io America, where he passed the rest of his life. Hk fife was lengthened fiir hejond the nsoal term. When a hmidred jears old, he was able to work on his farm, and bii mind was not at all impaired. He had lired all this time in carelessness and sin; he was a sinner a hundred jean old, and ready to die accursed. One day, as he sat in his field, he busied himsdf in reflecting on his past life. He i thought of the days of his youth. His memory fixed on Mr J FlaveFs sermon, a considerable part of whidi he remem- i bered. The earnestness of the minister — the truths spoken j — the efiect on the people — all came firesh to his mind. He felt that he had not loved the Lord Jesus; he feared the dreadful anathema; he was deeply convinced of sin- was brought to the blood of sprinkling, fie lived to his one hundred and sixteenth year, giving every evidence of being born again. Ah! how faithful God is to his word. He did let none of his words fall to the ground.
Be of good cheer, Christian mothers, who weep over your unawakened children. They may be going far fiK>m you, perhaps across the seas, and you tremble for their souk Remember God can reach them everywhere. A belieyinff mother never prayed in vain. Be instant in prayer. Goa will not forget his word. He will let none of his words fall to the ground*
lY. The Word may harden. In some cases, I believe, the Word of God is sent to harden souls; and so it will not return void, but prosper in the thing whereto he sent it That was an awful message God sent by his prophet: “Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye in* deed, but perceive not.” — Isa. yi. 9. I fear there are many such messages in our day.
Ques. Does God not wish men to he saved f Ans. 0 yes; God willeth all men to be saved. I believe there is not one soul that the Saviour does not yearn over as he did over Jerusalem; and the Father says: “O that they had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways 1” But still, when Jerusalem resisted the word of Christ, Christ said: ^’ Now they are hid firom thine eyes.” And if yon refuse the Word of Christ, and neglect this great salvation, I firmly believe that he shall soon come to you with Isaiah’s dreadful message: “Hear ye indeed, but understand not”
Oh t how dreadful a thought it is, that though we be the aATOur of life unto life to some, we are the saTour of death ■imto death to most. How dreadful, that the yerj words of loTe and mercy which we bring, should be making some Mmk only more fit for the burning! And yet it must be so. How often have I heard men of God complain that their greatest fruit was when they entered first upon their ministry! I do begin to fear that it is going to be so with u — iiiat Gtpd hath chosen out his first-fruits, and the rest are to be hardened. Why was this? Because the people are hardened by the constant preaching of the truth.
My dear friends, remember this word: ^’ Groddid let none of his words fall to the ground.” I have gone among you tot more than a year, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom. Bemember the word was not mine, but His that sent me. I would have been ashamed to stand up and speak my own words. If the hammer does not break, it makes the iron into steel. Every blow makes it harder. If the fire does not melt, it hardens the clay into brick — as hard as stone. If the medicine does not heal, it poisons. If the word concerning Christ does not break your heart, it will make it like the nether millstone.
Y. For a witness. That is an awful word in Matt, xzir. 14: “And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations.” Ah! my dear friends, God’s word cannot return unto him Yoid. Every drop of rain has its errand from God. These driying showers of snow are all fulfilling his word. And do you really think that the word concerning his Son shall be spoken without any end? Ah, no! even though not one soul should be saved by it. It shall be for a vntness. When Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, if the Israelites had been unwilling to look, I can easily imagine the haste with which he would go round the camp, crying to every dying man: Look here, look here. Two things would be in his mind: Ist To get his people healed; 2c?, To give glory to his God, by bearing witness to them of the love of God; as if he had said: Now, if you perish, it is your own blame; God is clear of your blood. so is it with the Christian minister. You remember Paul, how he was “instant, in season and out of season,” “teaching publicly, and fom house to house, warning eveiT one day and night ynth tears;” “in labours more abundant-in stripes above measure — in prisons moie &^- quent — in deaths oft.” Wh j all this? Am, For two rea* sons: Ittf He wanted souls to be sared. He was infiniteif and insatiably greedy of the oonyersion of souls.” 2d, Ha sought the honour of God. He wanted to preach the Gospel for a witness — to leave every man without excuse for rsp mainingin his sins; as if he had said: Now if you perish, it is your own blame — God is clear of your blood.
Ah! my dear friends, such is our ministry to many of ymu It is for a witness. God, who knows my heart, knows that I seek your salvation night and day. My recoid il above, that your heayai would be two heavens to me; and your salvation as two salvations to me.** Yet if you wiH not learn, I will be a witness anst you in that day. The w<»ds that we have spoken m weakness, and mudi trembling, will rise to condemn you in Uiat day. How fain would I see you gathered with the ransomed flock, on the right hand of the throne! How fain, in that day, would I see you smiled on by the lovely Saviour, whose smile is more bright than the summer sun! But, if it may not be, I wiH say with the angels: ^’ Hallelujah! “- — “Even so. Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” — Amen.
St Peter’s Feb. 25, 1838.