John Armstrong

“ Thou wantest not careless shepherds who sit at ease; the sheep are many and need the shepherd's care. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;” therefore the few must labour with the greater zeal.
It is said of the men of the world that they “rise up early and late take rest” in their carefulness for perishing things; shall not the like be said of the men of God, Thy ministers, in their zeal for imperishable souls? In the sweat of my brow ought I to labour, yea, in the sweat of my heart, for I am an husbandman of souls, and of this harvest Angels shall be the reapers. ”

“ What then must be the value of all this multitude of souls! How can I give sufficient labour?
O take from me, merciful Lord, all sleep and desire of sleep; souls may be lost even through the unwatchfulness of but a few days. Of how great a price is even one opportunity of speaking Thy word, if Thou art with me! Teach me after Thine own most perfect pattern to go about doing good and to be zealous in doing good, that I may be a faithful pastor, and that nothing be lost to this people through my unfaithfulness. Make me not only an evangelist, but a true pastor, going about from house to house. ”

“ Or it may be, Thou givest me no visible success, that I may the more undistractedly desire the final and most glorious recompense of faith. Thou canst give increase when Thou wilt; if not in my day, give it afterwards; make me content to labour without visible fruit of my labours in this life. ”

“ I abide at home when I should be labouring among my people; I linger and hesitate to go forth, or I leave off too soon and do my work but partially, or I shrink from those who most need exhortation, from the most sinful and hardened of my people; I please myself with the conversation of the devout; I choose rather to sit with the righteous, than to go among sinners; I have often distaste for my toils; I want heart for them and patience; I often go to them unwillingly and end gladly; or when I have done little I think I have done enough. Indolence doth much possess me, and backwardness ”