View source for Supposing Him to Be the Gardener 2

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<p>You see<em> it is yours to work</em> under the Lord Jesus; but it is not yours to take the anxiety of his office into your souls as though you were to bear his burdens. The undergardener, the work-man in the garden, needs not fret about the whole garden as though it were all left to him. No, no; let him not take too much upon himself. I beg you, bound your anxiety by the facts of the case.<br><br>
So you have a number of young people around you, and you are watching for their souls as they that must give account. This is well; but do not be worried and wearied; for, after all, the saving and the keeping of those souls is not in <em>your</em> hands, but it rests with One far more able than yourself. Just think that <em>the Lord is the gardener</em>. I know it is so in matters of providence. A certain man of God in troublous times became quite unable to do his duty because he laid to heart so much the ills of the age; he became depressed and disturbed, and he went on board a vessel, wanting to leave the country, which was getting into such a state that he could no longer endure it. Then one said to him, Mr. Whitelock, are you the manager of the world? No, he was not quite that. "Did not God get on pretty well with it before you were born, and don&rsquo;t you think he will do very well with it when you are dead?" That reflection helped to relieve the good man&rsquo;s mind, and he went back to do his duty. I want you thus to perceive the limit of your responsibility: you are not the gardener himself; you are only one of the gardener&rsquo;s boys, set to run on errands, or to do a bit of digging, or to sweep the paths. The garden is well enough managed even though you are not head manager in it.<br><br>
While this relieves us of anxiety, <em>it makes labor for Christ very sweet</em>, because if the garden does not seem to repay us for our trouble we say to ourselves, "It is not <em>my</em> garden after all. &lsquo;Supposing him to be the gardener,&rsquo; I am quite willing to work on a barren piece of rock, or tie up an old withered bough, or dig a worthless sod; for, if it only pleases Jesus, the work is for that one sole reason profitable to the last degree. It is not mine to question the wisdom of my task, but to set about it in the name of my Master and Lord. &lsquo;Supposing him to be the gardener,&rsquo; <em>lifts the ponderous responsibility of it from me, and my work becomes pleasant and delightful."</em><br><br>
In dealing with the souls of men, we meet with cases which are extremely difficult. Some people are so timid and fearful that you do not know how to comfort them; others are so fast and presumptuous that you hardly know how to help them. A few are so double-faced that you cannot understand them, and others so fickle that you cannot hold them. Some flowers puzzle the ordinary gardener: we meet with plants which are covered with prickles, and when you try to train them they wound the hand that would help them. These strange growths would make a great muddle for you if <em>you</em>were the gardener; but "supposing <em>him</em> to be the gardener," you have the happiness of being able to go to him constantly, saying, "Good Lord, I do not understand this singular creature; it is as odd a plant as I am myself. Oh, that you would manage it, or tell me how. I have come to tell you of it."<br><br>
Constantly our trouble is that we have so many plants to look after that we have not time to cultivate any one in the best manner, because we have fifty more all needing attention at the time; and then before we are done with the watering-pot we have to fetch the hoe and the rake and the spade, and we are puzzled with these multitudinous cares, even as Paul was when he said, "That which comes upon me daily, <em>the care of all the churches</em>." Ah, then, it is a blessed thing to <em>do the little we can do and leave the rest to Jesus</em>, "supposing him to be the gardener."<br><br>
In the church of God there is a discipline which we cannot exercise. I do not think it is half so hard to exercise discipline as it is not to be able to exercise it when yet you feel that it ought to be done. The servants of the householder were perplexed when they might not root up the tares. "Did you not sow good seed in your field? From whence then has it tares?" "An enemy has done this." "Will you then that we go and gather them up?" "Not so," said he, "lest you root, up the wheat with them." This afflicts the Christian minister when he must not remove a pestilent, hindering weed.<br><br>
Yes, but "supposing him to be the gardener," and it is his will to let that weed remain, what have you and I to do but to hold our peace? He has a discipline more sure and safe than ours, and in due time the tares shall know it. In patience let us possess our souls. And then, again, there is that succession in the garden which we can not keep up. Plants will die down, and others must be put into their places or the garden will grow bare, but we know not where to find these fresh flowers. We say, "When yonder good man dies who will succeed him?" That is a question I have heard many a time, until I am rather weary of it. Who is to follow such a man?<br><br>
Let us wait until he is gone and needs following. Why sell the man&rsquo;s coat when he can wear it himself? We are apt to think when this race of good brethren hall die, that none will arise worthy to unloose the latchets of their shoes. Well, friend, I could suppose a great many things, but this morning my text is, "Supposing him to be the gardener," and on that supposition I expect that the Lord has other plants in reserve which you have not yet seen, and these will exactly fit into our places when they become empty, and the Lord will keep up the true apostolical succession until the day or his second advent. In every time of darkness and dismay, when the heart sinks and the spirits decline, and we think it is all over with the church of God, let us fall back on this, "Supposing him to be the gardener," and expect to see greater and better things than these. We are at the end of our wits, but he is not at the beginning of his yet: we are nonplussed, but he never will be; therefore let us wait and be tranquil, "supposing him to be the gardener."<br><br>
IV. Fourthly, I want you to notice that this supposition will give you <u><strong>A DELIVERANCE FROM MANY GLOOMY FEARS</strong></u>. I walked down the garden, and I saw a place where all the path was strewn with leaves and broken branches, and stones, and I saw the earth upon the flower-beds, tossed about, and roots lying quite out of the ground: all was in disorder. Had a dog been amusing himself? or had a mischievous child been at work? If so, it was a great pity. But no: in a minute or two I saw the gardener come back, and I perceived that he had been making all this disarrangement. He had been cutting, and digging, and hacking, and mess-making; and all for the good of the garden. It may be it has happened to some of you that you have been a good deal clipped lately, and in your domestic affairs things have not been in so fair a state as you could have wished: it may be in the Church we have seen ill weeds plucked up, and barren branches lopped, so that everything is in shambles. Well, if the Lord has done it out, gloomy fears are idle. "Supposing him to he the gardener," all is well.<br><br>
As I was talking this over with my friend, I said to him — "Supposing him to be the gardener," then <em>the serpent</em> will have a bad time of it. Supposing Adam to be the gardener, then the serpent gets in and has a chat with his wife, and mischief comes of it. But supposing Jesus to be the gardener, woe to you, serpent: there is a blow for your head within half a minute if you do but show yourself within the boundary. So, if we are afraid that the devil should get in among us let us always in prayer entreat that there may be no space for the devil, because the Lord Jesus Christ fills all, and keeps out the adversary. Other creatures besides serpents intrude into gardens; caterpillars and palmerworms, and all sorts of destroying creatures are apt to devour our churches. How can we keep them out? The highest wall cannot exclude them: there is no protection except one, and that is, "supposing him to be the gardener." Thus it is written, "I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts."<br><br>
I am sometimes troubled by the question, 'What if <em>roots of bitterness</em> should spring up among us to trouble us?' We are all such fallible creatures, supposing some brother should permit the seed of discord to grow in his bosom, then there may be a sister in whose heart the seeds will also spring up, and from her they will fly to another sister, and be blown about until brethren and sisters are all bearing wormwood in their hearts.<br><br>
Who is to prevent this? Only the Lord Jesus by his Spirit. He can keep out this evil, "supposing him to the gardener." The root which bears wormwood will grow but little where Jesus is. Dwell with us, Lord, as a church and people: by your Holy Spirit reside with us and in us, and never depart from us, and then no root of bitterness shall spring up to trouble us.<br><br>
Then comes another fear. Suppose the <em>living waters of God&rsquo;s Spirit</em> should not come to water the garden, what then? We cannot, make them flow, for the Spirit is sovereign, and he flows where he pleases. Ah, but the Spirit of God will be in our garden, "supposing our Lord to be the gardener." There is no fear of our not being watered when Jesus undertakes to do it. "He will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground."<br><br>
But what if the <em>sunlight</em> <em>of his love</em> should not shine on the garden?<br><br>
If the fruits should never ripen, if there should be no peace, no joy in the Lord? That cannot happen "supposing him to be the gardener;" for his face is the sun, and his countenance scatters those health-giving beams, and nurturing warmths, and perfecting influences which are needful for maturing the saints in all the sweetness of grace, to the glory of God. So, "supposing him to be the gardener" at this the close of the year, I fling away my doubts and fears, and invite you who bear the church upon your heart to do the same. <em>It is all well with Christ&rsquo;s cause because it is in his own hands. </em>He shall not fail nor be discouraged. The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.<br><br>
V. Fifthly, here is <u><strong>A WARNING FOR THE CARELESS</strong></u>, "supposing him to be the gardener." In this great congregation many are to the church what<strong>weeds</strong> are to a garden. They are not planted by God; they are not growing under his nurture, they are bringing forth no fruit to his glory. My dear friend, I have tried often to get at you, to impress you, but I cannot. Take heed; for one of these days, "supposing him to be the gardener," <em><strong>he</strong> will reach you</em>, and you shall know what that word means, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has, not planted shall be rooted up." Take heed to yourselves, I pray.<br><br>
Others among us are like the branches of the vine which <em>bear no fruit</em>. We have often spoken very sharply to these, speaking honest truth in unmistakable language, and yet we have not touched their consciences. Ah, but "supposing him to be the gardener," he will fulfill that sentence: "Every branch in me that bears not fruit <em>he</em> takes away." He will get at you, if we cannot. Would God, before this old year were quite dead, you would turn unto the Lord with full purpose of heart; so that instead of being a weed you might become a choice flower; that instead of a dry stick, you might be a sappy, fruit-bearing, branch of the vine. The Lord make it to be so; but if any here need the caution, I beg them to take it to heart at once.<br><br>
"Supposing him to be the gardener," <em>there will be no escaping from his eye.</em> There will be no deliverance from his hand. As "he will thoroughly purge his floor, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire," so he will thoroughly cleanse his garden and cast out every worthless thing.<br><br>
VI. Another set of thoughts may well arise as <u><strong>A QUIETUS TO THOSE WHO COMPLAIN</strong></u>. "Supposing him to be the gardener." Certain of us have been made to suffer much <em>physical pain</em>, which often bites into the spirits, and makes the heart to stoop. Others have suffered <em>heavy temporal losses</em>, having had no success in business, but, on the contrary, having had to endure privation, perhaps even to poverty. Are you ready to complain against the Lord for all this? I beg you, do not so. Take the supposition of the text into your mind this morning. <em>The Lord has been pruning you sharply,</em>cutting off your best boughs, and you seem to be like a thing despised that is constantly tormented with the knife. Yes, but "supposing him to be the gardener," <em>suppose that your loving Lord has wrought it all</em>, that from his own hand all your grief has come, every cut, and every gash, and every slip: does not this alter the case? <em>Has not the Lord done it?</em><br><br>
Well, then, if it be so, put your finger to your lip and be quiet, until you are able from your heart to say, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." I am persuaded that <em>the Lord has done nothing amiss to any one of his people</em>; that no child of his can rightly complain that he has been whipped with too much severity; and that no one branch of the vine can truthfully declare that it has been pruned with too sharp an edge. No; <em>what the Lord has done is the best that could have been done, the very thing that you and I, if we could have possessed infinite wisdom and love, would have wished to have done!</em> Therefore let us stop each thought of murmuring, and say, "The Lord has done it," and be glad.<br><br>
Especially I speak to those who have suffered <em>bereavement</em>. I can hardly express to you how strange I feel at this moment when my sermon revives a memory so sweet dashed with such exceeding bitterness. I sat with my friend and secretary in that garden some fifteen days ago, and we were then in perfect health, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord. We returned home, and within five days I was smitten with disabling pain; and worse, far worse than that, he was called upon to lose his wife. We said to one another as we sat there reading the word of God and meditating, "How happy we are! Dare we think of being so happy? Must it not speedily end?"<br><br>
I little thought I should have to say for him, "Alas, my brother, you are brought very low, for the delight of your eyes is taken from you." But here is our comfort: <em>the Lord has done it!</em> The <em>best rose</em> in the garden is gone! Who has taken it? The gardener came this way and gathered it. He <em>planted</em> it and <em>watched</em> over it, and now he has <em>taken</em> it. Is not this most natural? Does anybody weep because of that? No; everybody knows that it is right, and according to the order of nature that he should come and gather the best in the garden. If you are sorely troubled by the loss of your beloved, yet dry your grief by supposing <em>him</em> to be the gardener." Kiss the hand that has wrought you such grief? Brethren beloved, remember the next time the Lord comes to your part of the garden, and he may do so within the next week, he will only gather his own flowers, and would you prevent his doing so even if you could?<br><br>
VII. "Supposing him to be the gardener," then there is <u><strong>AN OUTLOOK FOR THE HOPEFUL</strong></u>. "Supposing him to be the gardener," then I expect to see in the garden where he works the best possible <em>prosperity</em>. I expect to see no flower dried up, no tree without fruit. I expect to see the richest, rarest fruit, with the daintiest bloom upon it, daily presented to the great Owner of the garden. Let us expect that in this church, and pray for it. oh, if we have but faith we shall see great things. It is our unbelief that straitens God. Let us believe great things from the work of Christ by his Spirit in the midst of his people&rsquo;s hearts, and we shall not be disappointed.<br><br>
"Supposing him to be the gardener," then, dear friends, we may expect <em>divine communion</em> of unspeakable preciousness. Go back to Eden for a minute. When Adam was the gardener, what happened? The Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day. But "supposing him to be the gardener," then we shall have the Lord God dwelling among us, and revealing himself in all the glory of his power, and the plenitude or his Fatherly heart; making us to know him, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. What joy is this!<br><br>
One other thought. "Supposing him to be the gardener," and God to come and walk among the trees of the garden, then I expect <em>he will remove the whole of the garden upward with himself to fairer skies</em>; for he arose, and his people must rise with him. I expect <em>a blessed transplantation</em> of all these flowers below, to a clearer atmosphere above, away from all this smoke and fog and damp, up where the sun is never clouded, where flowers never wither, where fruits never decay! Oh, the glory we shall then enjoy up yonder, on the hills of spices in the garden of God. "Supposing him to be the gardener" what a garden will he form above, and how shall you and I grow therein, developing beyond imagination." It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Since he is the author and finisher or our faith, to what <em>perfection</em> will he conduct us, and to what <em>glory</em> will he bring us! Oh, to be found in him! God grant we may be!<em> To be plants in his garden,</em> "Supposing him to be the gardener,"<em> is all the heaven we can desire!</em>
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