Ministers compared to Labourers.
Luke 10.7. The Labourer is worthy of his Meat.
THe Lord Christ compares his faithful Servants, that preach his Word, to Labourers, to such as externally work and labour with their hands.
Labourers. | Parallel. |
Labourers usually are hired, and then set to work. We read of one that went to hire La∣bourers,* 1.1 &c. | SO Christ spiritually is said to hire La∣bourers, and send them into his Vineyard; he assures them of a glorious Reward, when they have done their Work. |
II. Some Men labour in the Field, they are Harvest-Men. | II. Such Labourers are the Preachers of the Gospel: The Harvest is great,* 1.2 and the Labourers are few, &c. They labour to make ready, and gather in Christ's Wheat. |
III. Some labour so hard, that they wear out their frail Bodies, and bring themselves quickly to the Grave. | III. So some of Christ's faithful and laborious Servants labour so hard in their Studies, in Watching, Praying, and Preaching, that they spend themselves, or bring utter Weakness upon their frail Ta∣bernacles: I am willing (saith Paul) to spend, and be spent, &c.* 1.3 |
IV. Labourers are often hindred and obstructed in their Work, like as the Jews were in building the Temple. | IV. So Christ's spiritual Labourers are often hindred in their Work: Satan strives to hinder them, and false Teachers strive to hinder them, and wicked Persecutors endeavour to hinder them, and many times forbid them to preach any more in the Name of Christ. |
V. Labourers observe the fittest Time to do Business in; they work hard by Day, and whilst they have good Weather. | V. So Christ's Labourers observe the fittest Time to do their Work; like as Christ saith,* 1.4 I must do the Work of him that sent me whilst it is Day; the Night comes, when no Man can work. |
VI. A Labourer is worthy of his Meat, and ought not to be denied it. | VI. So the Ministers of Christ ought to have all things necessary provided for them, and their Families:* 1.5 Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. So God hath ordained, that they that preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel. And (since this Duty is much neglected among some Christian Churches,) I shall here transcribe a Page or two, being part of a Sermon preached by Mr. N. C. at the Ordination of an Elder in the City of London, 1681. |