CHAPTER XVI.

The varieties of the human mind.

IT can scarcely be necessary, after the full development in the preceding pages, to dwell at much length on the character of him, with whose thoughts, views, labors, and latter end the reader has now become acquainted. But a due respect to the memory of a beloved brother, and a faithful minister, demands, in the conclusion of our memoir, a separate tribute, the impartiality of which, the writer would venture to hope, will be equal to its sincerity.

In contemplating the constitution of the human mind, we are struck with the Divine wisdom manifested in the distribution of its various departments. If all men were imaginative, we should exist in a kind of unreal world, where theories would take the place of facts, dreams that of realities, and intellectual vagaries that of common sense. If all were philosophers, the common affairs of life would be neglected. If all were cool mathematical reasoners, the progress of these affairs would be slow, as they depend chiefly on probabilities. If all were contemplative, who would be active? If the sanguine were not corrected by the phlegmatic, how would the happy medium, so much praised, be secured? If in the search after truth, the same

Distinguishing characteristics.

proposition should be seen alike by every mind, there would be an end of all discussion, and of course no new light would be struck out. Taking men in the mass, there is such a wise and wonderful distribution of mental character, as at once preserves the balance of society, promotes its order, and advances its happiness. In practical life, as in the intellectual world, the same principle of distribution is developed. And in the great work of regenerating the world, though the same sublime and omnipotent Spirit sways his high and mysterious influence, what a diversity of gifts are employed!

In one character is exhibited an irresistible and inextinguishable ardor; in another, a serene, steady, and most impressive amiableness; in a third, the deep imprint of never failing good sense; in a fourth, unconquerable perseverance; in a fifth, the habitual love of systematic effort in study or in the pastoral field. In all these I have not spoken of genius or brilliant talent, a thing which the world is apt to admire; often useful, but often destructive to him who possesses, and him who encounters it. It may be set down as a great fact in the history of redemption, that God has more glorified himself in making use of good men, than of great men to execute his high purposes. Great men, especially if unsanctified, have been the greatest enemies of their race.

*

But when powerful natural genius has been trained and tempered by the Holy Spirit, as in the case of Paul, then it stands ready to conceive and execute great things for God. The patient labor of the gospel vineyard is, however, to be accomplished by thousands of hands, whose chief distinc

*The Rev. Mr. Jerram, in delineating the character of that distinguished physician and Christian, Dr. John Mason Good, remarks that his life and death teach the insignificance of the highest intellectual endowments and a most extensive erudition, when compared with Christian character and an experimental knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; that the greatest attainment of man is a conformity to the Divine image, and his highest destiny is to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Who are the most useful ministers ?

tion shall be their holy industry, stimulated and sustained by the cheering voice of the Great Head of the Church. On the subject of useful preaching, the London Evangelical Magazine has the following just remarks, by a correspondent:

“As a layman, I have sometimes reflected on the undeniable fact, that among the most eminently useful ministers-those whose labors have more especially been rendered effectual to the great purpose of conversion-there have been many who were not distinguished by high attainments in systematic theology, and whose discourses were far removed from the general standard of pulpit excellence; but having entered the ministry under circumstances which precluded a very extensive range of theological reading, and seeing before them 'fields already white for the harvest,' with few laborers ready for the work, they have commenced their arduous duties under a deep impression of 'the powers of the world to come;' of the short period of labor before them; of the multitudes perishing for lack of knowledge; and accompanied by a lively recollection of their own feelings and desires when hearing the word. Hence there has been a solemnity, an ardor, a simplicity and directness of address, a glowing affection in exhibiting the Almighty and compassionate Saviour, and a pungency of application, which, under the Divine benediction, has aroused, and interested, and affected, and saved their hearers."

"Far be it from the writer to depreciate the advantages of an enlarged and well grounded acquaintance with Theology. Many instructive examples, among the living as well as among those, who, though dead, yet speak, might be adduced of the happy concentration of high and accurate attainments in this Divine science, to the important object of pulpit instruction. These truly great men have still remembered that the excellency of the power was in God, and not in them; consequently their addresses were

What kind of ministers we want in the United States.

characterized by a beautiful simplicity of plan and of diction, and a frequent reference to their entire dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, while bringing out of their abundant treasuries things new and old.' It may, however, be worthy of inquiry, whether preachers of ordinary education and ability, might not derive some useful lessons by reflecting on the efficacy of that simple, direct, pointed, and serious mode of address, (not to the neglect of diligent preparation for the pulpit) which some, even with very inferior advantages in Theology, have been enabled to attain."

Were it proper here to enter into such a disquisition, it might be shown at large, that the circumstances of our own country eminently demand a practical ministry, for we are a practical nation. Good natural abilities, a sound physical constitution, plain good sense, a thorough knowledge of the Bible, and a deep and devoted piety are the main qualifications. They are fundamental and permanent. They are not, like German Philosophy and Theology, to be doomed to a series of interminable permutations, but they will form the staple of the human agency, which is to do its part in the conversion of the world. If I mistake not, these are among the qualifications which have given such strength to the character, and such high esteem to the names of our foreign missionaries, who now stand first in that exalted sphere of spiritual action.

To select an individual case of usefulness, it is said of John Frederick Oberlin, that in preaching "he studied a colloquial plainness, interspersing his discourses with figures and allusions, which might sometimes have been deemed below the dignity of the pulpit, had they been addressed to a polite audience; he would frequently introduce biographical anecdotes of persons distinguished for their piety, and all the operations of nature furnished him. with illustrations of spiritual things. But the Bible itself was the grand source, from which he drew the matter of

Mental character of Walton.

his instructions. It formed the study of his life, and he was in the habit of citing very largely from the Scriptures, as best adapted to feed the flock." The learned Salmasius, when dying, said, "Oh! I have lost a world of time: time, the most precious thing in the world; whereof had I but one year more, it should be spent in David's Psalms and Paul's Epistles."

In any analysis of the mind and habits of Walton, we should find similar traits Although imagination was not the predominent faculty of his mind—I mean that species of imagination, which rises to the elevated region of poetryin the art of illustration he was peculiarly felicitous. Nor did this power seem to spring up from his mind so much a thing of natural growth, as to be engrafted on it, and assiduously cultivated under an intense desire to make the truth plain to the most obtuse and unlettered hearer, and rivet an impression on the heart of the thoughtless sinner. He was far from indulging in irregular and extravagant bursts of feeling; his soul was too heavily laden with the habitual sense of the incomprehensible value of eternal things, to allow of this. But he would patiently reason the matter with the sinner; listen to his cavils; reply to his objections; and with tender and tearful earnestness press upon his conscience the claims of God. He ever spoke in public and in private under a weighty conviction of the TRUTH.

The year 1824 was an era in Mr. Walton's life. It has been seen that a change then took place in his views, surpassed in importance only by that of his original conversion. The Spirit of revivals wrought it. A flood of light was poured into his mind. A new impulse was imparted to his affections, his prayers and his labors, and even to his understanding. TRUTH was in a peculiar manner the object of his ardent pursuit. Not that he worshipped' it, as has been extravagantly said of some keen and enthu siastic minds. He worshipped only the God of truth. But

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