Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 706
Delivered on Sunday Evening, July 29, 1866, by C. H. Spurgeon, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
John 4:35.
MANY unbelieving Christians have a very large stock of reasons for not expecting to see many conversions. They suppose that any present manifestation of the Divine power in connection with the Truth of God is not to be expected. They read the history of past ages and they wonder, and sometimes, when their eyes are sufficiently clear, they look forward with some sort of hope to the repetition of these scenes in future years, that is to say, when they, themselves, are dead and buried, and a new age shall have come upon the world.
But as to God working any wonders in the world now—as to the conversion of thousands now—they do not expect it. And if it were to happen they would be surprised, and beyond all measure astonished. They are forever dwelling in the past, or seeking to roost in the future—but as for now, now seeing God’s arm made bare, now setting to work for the conversion of men, now expecting that God will win hearts unto Himself—they are not brought up to this mark yet. Their common reason for expecting nothing now is this—that there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest. They say, “This is not the time. We must have patience. We must wait. This is not the man. This is not the hour. This is not the place. We must wait till, under other circumstances, other men being given, we look for grander results. But we must not expect them now—there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.”
You know that this is the general feeling at present in the Christian Church—not to expect any great things now, but to be waiting and watching for something or other which may one of these days, in the order of Providence, “turn up.” Meanwhile, it is true that death does not cease to slay! Meanwhile, it is a fact that our cemeteries and graveyards are being crowded, and that multitudes are perishing for lack of knowledge. Meanwhile, it is most true that error stalks like a pestilence through the land. It is true that, as yet, Christ does not see of the travail of His soul and that few are the travelers who go through the strait gate.
But these good people seem indifferent to the perishing millions, and only say, “There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.” I have noticed that this kind of feeling has crept into the smaller agencies—to the individual workers, too. In the Sunday school, how many a teacher does not expect to see the children of his class converted, but fondly hopes that perhaps, when they are grown up, the benefit of the instruction which he imparts to them may be apparent? “There are yet four months,” they say, “and then comes the harvest.” The most of those who teach our young people have become hopeful that perhaps before those young persons shall actually die, or before they come to be gray-headed, some Truth that has been dropped into their hearts may perhaps germinate, and bud, and come to perfection— but they do not expect a present blessing. “There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.”
Take the most of our ministers, and what are they looking for? They hope that God may visit their congregations. But as to holding enquirers’ meetings every week, and expecting to find people crying, “Sir, what must I do to be saved?” after their sermons—all this is not according to their notions. “There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.” One of these bright sunny days, one of these long-expected months of which the Prophets have talked so long, perhaps in the Millennium year, which some say is drawing so near, they are expecting wonderful things, for “there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.”
Truly, my Brethren, one’s ears have been dinned and dunned with it till one has got sick of hearing that “there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest.” Patience is a virtue, but sometimes decision is a greater one! To wait long is well, but not when the harvest is ripe and ready—for then it will lie upon the ground and rot! To wait may be well, but not when men are dying—no, when Hell is filling! Not when immortal souls are in jeopardy! Not when the plague is raging, and we have, today, to stand between the living and the dead, and wave the censer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the plague may be stopped!
Four months, indeed. Four months! Have there not been months enough already? We have waited long! We have waited till our patience may well have exhausted itself. It was to be four months in the days of our grandfathers. It was to be four months in the days of our fathers! And now it is to be four months still! Oh that we would learn the Savior’s words, and say no longer that “there are four months, and then comes the harvest”! But let us do as He says, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest.” Expect a present blessing! Believe that you will have it! Go to work to get it, and do not be satisfied unless you do have it!