The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-09
For THE .CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Diversity Of Gifts.
NJ. w. WOODS, President
ANNA NJ. ALLAN Secretary.

1t is generally taken for granted that in or
der to secure great success in the ministry, it
is necessary that man should be possessed of
unusually fine talents, and have an opportunity
of securing vast amount of learning. Such
however is not always the case. Young men
of good talents, possessed of fine attainments
in literature and of undoubted piety have
sometimes entered the ministry and made an
utter failure. They have labored and toiled
with persevering energy, but could never sue
coed in rendering themselves useful or accept
able preachers to the congregations, to which
they we're called upon to minister
While on the other hand, persons much less
gifted by nature with intellectual abilities, and
whose attainments in science and literature
were superficial, have made themselves ex-
ceedingy useful by the diligent exercise Of
talents of different kind, the value of which
was overlooked, while they were pursuing their
studies at College. They had the rare talent
of gaining the affections of their fellow-men,
and of securing influence over them, so that
they could mould them at their will. They
also had the ability to make use OF all the
knowledge they possessed to the best advan
tage. This ability no doubt arose in some
measure from the peculiar strength and pleas
antness of voice, which nature had bestowed
upon them, so that they could speak upon all
occasions with ease and fuency, without much
effort on their part, and in manner accepta-
BILE to their hearers. 1t cannot, however, be
denied, that some men seem to be born to be
fortunate in the great battle of human life,
while others never succeed at any thing they
undertake. Providence gives them peculiar
fitness for the station they were destined to
occupy in the world
We have known many men distinguished for
their reasoning powers, for their logical turn of
mind, and for their extensive requirements,
who met with but little success as ministers of
the Gospel; and we have certainly been ac-
ouainted with the history Of one laborer in the
Masters vineyard, who possessed but mode
rate talents, and never had any reputation for
scientific or literary attainments, who, as a
preacher of the Gospel, became eminently
useful Ills cOnVersdlloua 'aicHIo "oio vi oil
high order. His society was eagerly sought
after by the old and young He could preach
with great effect by the Preside and in the fam
ily circle. His ministrations in the pulpit were
acceptable to large and intelligent congrega.
TONS and esteemed by good judges, as sound
in doctrine, evangelical in sentiment, practical
in their bearing, and full of instruction. He
had the rare talent of unfolding his subject and
illustrating his ideas in clear and striking
manner, well calculated to arrest the attention
of his hearers, and to present the truth to them
in an attractive form. His power of illustra.
tion indeed was wonderful His rema ks we're
always appropriate to the occasion, His off
hand and extemporary efforts at public speak
ing were frequently more impressive and pro
duced better effect, than when his discourses
were more carefully prepared. But his ser.
mons never had the stamp of genius upon
them. and were far from being logically ar
ranged. He never medded with metaphysi-
cal speculations, and seemed to avoid the for.
NAL discussion of any subject. 1t was unques-
tionably his object to build up the waste places
of Zion, and not to attack the strongholds of
Infdelity. He had encouragement to give to
the weak, and consolation to the afflicted, but
he was not fond of attacking the champions of
error, or exposing the sophistry of their argu-
ments. His powers of analysis were not great.