The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16
Vol. 8.---l,Os 50.
SILENT CHRISTIANS.


have great deal in him to say. A full man
has right to speak often in the prayer
meeting. If he comes to the family gather
ing Of Christs flock with rcE experier Te,
or CLOWN. .u5gestion, u or happy elucida.
ton of Scripture, let him out with it: Such
speech is golden. Tespeak at the right
time and in the right way and to know when
to stop, is happy gift those brethren
who can pray with ferspe, and address the
meeting with pith and JUNCTION, are the JOY
and strength of the prayer-sircle. Happy
is thrt Church "whose qdiyer is full Of
them.
But every good man is not born with the
gift of public speech. There are deep
minded, devout and earnest Christians who
can do everything else better than address
mixed assembly. They are constitutionally
timid and alOw-tongued there iS pure gold
within then, but they cannot coin II readil!
into current words. They can give fOr
Christ, and they can live for Christ; but
they cannot speak for Christ acceptably in a
public assembly. Their lives are eloquent.
Their actions speak louder than words. One
of the most eminent scientific men in America
united with the Church in middle life, and
adorned his profession by a most'exemplary
walk; but he made stipulation with the ses-
sion that they should never call on him to
take part in any devotional meeting. After
forty years of age it is not easy to conquer
a constitutional repugnance to public speak
ing. With some timid persons it is moral
impOssibility. If they attempt to utter
{" few remarks" they are no sooner on their
feet than their ideas take wing like fright
ened birds, and nothing comes out of them
but terrible perspiration; they sit down
mortified, and determined never to " make
fools of thems elves again"
have hearty liking for these shy, silent
brethren-especially after l have been pes
tered with brother Garrulous Gibbs stereo-
typed exhortations, which l have just heard
for the forty-ffth time. These speechless
Christians number in their ranks some of
the most pure-minded, useful disciples that
I encounter. They are always at the meet
ings. They sing; they listen intelligently
they are good hearers and good dOers. If
they do not preach, they practice. What
ever sins they commit, they are not guilty
of "vain babblng" or of talking nonsense
in the name of the Lord. Bunyan's "Mr.
Fearing" and "Miss Much afraid" suffered
not a little from their bashful timidity; but
they made better headway for heaven than
loquacious "Mr. Talkative," who had
" hundred Scriptures at the end of his noisy
tongue" ] can snow more than one topgue,
tied church member whose life is power in
the community. He can open his purse for
the Lord easier than he can open his mouth; ;
he can glorify his Master by bearing much
fruit in godly living. But in public meet
ings his strength is to sit still"
1t is not the duty of pastors or of leaders
of prayer-meetings to persecute these shy
brethren by continually scaling them out. I"
They will not come. 1t was not foreordained
that every converted man should edify the
brotherhood by speaking in meeting, or else
conversion would bring with it the gift of
fluent speech Christ needs workers and
givers, as we'll as speakers. Let those who
are so invincibly difident that they cannot
serve their Master with their tongue be con-
tent to serve him in. other ways. They can
commune with God in secret. They can
come and worship in deVout silence, or in
the song of praise. They can consecrate
their money and influence to the Lord
They can visit the poor, and distribute BIZ
bles and wholesome tracts; they can let their
light shine in hundred ways. God will not
hold them responsible for what they can't
do, but only for doing what they can. Dor
cas's needle was more useful than some
tongues that wot of. Andrew has left no
recorded speeches, but he brought his pow
erful brother Peter to the Lord. Be of good
cheer, ye shy brethren who possess your
souls in silence; if you cannot speak publicly
for your beloved Master, you can witness
for him by holy and useful lives. 81 Gamma
speak o my Lord" said the timid and con-
fused Scotch woman, "but I could dee for
him."