But we must now return to William Farel at Neuchâtel. He was far from thinking that his work there was done when the images were broken and the mass was stopped. On the contrary, this had but cleared the way for the work that he had at heart. Having now pulled down, he could begin to build up. And this was a far more laborious work. It needed a toil and patience far beyond that required for the work of pulling down. Besides, there was not nearly so much to show for it in the eyes of man. To those whose motive was nothing higher than hatred of priestcraft and tyranny, Farel seemed to be nothing but a conquering hero. They compared the light and freedom which had broken in with the old days of darkness and bondage, and could see nothing but victory and triumph. But Farel’s eyes were not turned backward upon the things that were behind. He was “reaching forth unto those things which are before.” His eyes were fixed upon Christ in the glory. It was by Him he measured all. It was not with blinded Papists that he now compared his converts, but with that holy and righteous One at God’s right hand.
And, therefore, whilst some might think he had now reaped the fruit of his labors, he was, in his own eyes, as the husbandman who waiteth for the precious fruit, and hath long patience for it. A mighty task yet lay before him, but it was one in which he could say he was a worker together with God.
He wrote at this time to a friend, “Christ can now be preached with perfect freedom. But when we consider how long is the race which has yet to be run, how far souls are yet from Christian purity, and simplicity, and love, we can only say things are as yet in an evil state. How many weeds must yet be rooted out before the ground can receive the good seed! How many sufferings, and toils, and dangers are yet to be braved! How many mighty enemies are yet to be overcome! Laborers are needed who can indeed endure hardness, and who are content to sow without depending upon a rich harvest.”
It was not easy for Farel to find such fellow-laborers as he needed. Paul had to mourn in his day “that all seek their own, and not the things that are Jesus Christ’s.” And so it has been since, with the exception of one here and there, to whom Christ has become not the first only but the only One. Farel wrote to several friends, entreating them for Christ’s sake to come and help him. So many towns and villages now needed preachers and teachers, there would be work enough for a host of faithful men.
“I do not promise you mountains of gold,” he wrote to one, “but trials and troubles no words can tell; not leisure, but work—no rest till the day’s work is done, no reward but in the time to come, and in the time present to live at your own cost. Truly the field is large and the door is open, but only to those who desire to feed the flock and not to live upon the flock. Besides which, I can offer you shame and reproach, ingratitude for patient service, evil in return for the good you have labored to bestow. I do not say this to frighten you, but rather to arouse you, as a noble soldier is aroused when he hears of enemies who are not small and weak, but great and strong—who is prepared to go into the battle to fight, quitting himself as a man, but trusting to God alone for strength and victory. For the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s.”
In another letter he says, “What more have I to tell you, except that the harvest is great and the laborers are few; that I have nothing to offer you but trouble and toil, and nothing to hold out, except that if the Lord is not true to His promise we are of all men the most miserable? The Lord does not leave us without bread when we have done the day’s work: but it is not bread of a dainty sort, and we take it just as His goodness gives it. I don’t want to tell you falsehoods, so there is the truth for you. May Christ deign Himself to teach you, my beloved, how your life can best be spent for His glory.”
This friend, whose name was André, was by no means frightened at the prospect Farel put before him. He would have come at once, but his wife did not feel tempted by Farel’s offers of trouble and hard fare. Farel wrote again, “If God has given you the gift of preaching the gospel, beware lest you bury your talent. Instead of listening to your wife, listen to your God. You will have to give account to God for the souls that are in darkness and bondage, whom your voice might teach and lead to Christ. Do not be frightened because I have no salary to offer you. It is a sweet thing to be poor, to suffer want,—yes, and to die for the Lord Jesus.”
André sent the best answer he could to this letter—that is to say, he came himself, and brought his wife with him; “and up to this present day,” says the Chronicle, “he is one of the faithful friends and fellow-laborers of Master Farel.”
As Farel had to travel about, it was needful that the people of Neuchâtel should not depend upon him alone for teaching. The pastor who went to preach at Valangin, Anthony Marcourt, took up his abode therefore at Neuchâtel, and Farel also took care to provide a schoolmaster, who should train the children in the faith of the gospel. He now felt free to go elsewhere.