Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-07-17
SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
~ HENRY WARD BEEcHER.


snow concerning spiritual gifts. brethren
] would not have you ignorant. Cor.
Iii. /.
The apostle knew that around this
point eliminated the ignorance of
the world; and, although we arc
more enlightened now than men
were then, we are yet ignorant of
spiritual gifts. 1t is not to be sup
posed that those miraculous powers
which were bestowed upon the early
Christians were indiscriminate, and
without any reason in the minds of
the individuals to whom they were
given Without n doubt, rs in the
case of the selection of the apostles
and prophets, there was foregoing
adaptation in the men selected to
the very office which they were called
to perform; and the gift consisted
largely either in quickening q dor
mant power, or adjusting an un-
regulated tendency which existed
from their creation And that which
God developed in men by mysteri-
Gus cillucnce of the Spirit, in the
time of Christ and of his disciples.
was nothing more nor less than the
opening up ot seed which he had
already planted in their making.
1t is important that Christians
should understand that moral and
religious qualities depend upon a
mans organization; that they are
subject to the same laws which
govern our other developments Of
thought and disposition; that they
differ in degree between one and
another rs physical qualities do; and
that they are subject to education, TO
restraint or stimulation, TO counter
poisc or uplifting
As all men arc not alike strong in
muscle, or able in thought, or skill
ful in invention. so all men are not
alike adapted to religious feelings.
Some naturally tend to one kind
of feeling, and Others, by force of
nature, tend to another kind Of feel
ing. But all religious feelings pro-
ceed from a definite base of faculty
or organization; and moral feelings
are subject to precisely the same
limitations, laws, and necessities
which men recognize as belonging 10
other parts Of the human mind.
1t is bold to say this: but it is time
that it was said, and insisted upon.
For there is a vague impression that
while all ordinary and secular ac-
tivities proceed from a definite or
ganization, all religious tendencies
are breathed upon the soul by God.
God does breathe upon the soul: but
it is just as the hand moves on the
harp to make music. Suppose the
hand, instead of moving on the harp.
moved on this slab of mahogany
which forms the top of the desk bc-
fore me. would there be any music:
No. And why? Because there is
10 foregoing tendency in the slab to
produce musical sounds. In the
harp there is; and if there was not.
they could not be called out from il
by the hand of the harper. And if
there was not in men a creative
tendency to religious feelings, re-
ligious feelings could not be pro
duced in them. Although Gods
Spirit, working on us makes Us feel
conscience, and hope, and love, and
2 sense Of right and wrong; vet.
Gods Spirit working on dandelions
does not make them have these feel
ings. When God moves on oxen
and sheep. he does not make them
moral and responsible beings, rs he
does human souls when he moves on
them. And the difference between
men and mere animals is thaI he
made men originally with different
organic natures and adaptations.
And although God works in us
certain religious feelings. il is be
cause when he made the human soul,
he made it to have such feeli, gs.-
And vet, the impression almost every
where is, that religious feelings have
no special relation to mans organiza-
ton and faculties; that they come by
Gods sovereignty; and that all men
are 70 seek for them just alike, from
just the same source, and under iust
the same responsibilities And there