EMINENT GIFTS
It is by no means conclusive evidence that men are born of God because they
are endued with eminent gifts. Some people are very retired in their habits
and very diffident in their powers, and especially in the public expression
of religion, who at the same time, possess at heart the true grace of the
Gospel; while others of a less embarrassed and more obtrusive turn of mind
posses peculiar facilities both of thought and expression, and seldom engage
in the public acts of devotion without profit to those around them. These at
the same time may be deceivers or deceived. Gifts are one thing and true
grace is another. The gift of prayer is one thing and the grace of prayer is
another. The gift of spiritual conversation is one thing, and the grace of
spiritual conversation is another.
Balaam and Saul were among the prophets, but they were both the enemies of
all righteousness. Judas was a public preacher and yet he was an accursed
traitor. Many at the last day shall say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in your name, and in your name cast out devils,” to whom the king shall
answer, “I know you not, depart from me you that work iniquity” (Mat.
7:22-23). The eminent gifts and distinguished usefulness of many professing
Christians are no doubt imparted to them for the benefit of the church of
God, while they themselves are reserved to be cast away.
A man may converse on the subject of religion as though his lips were
touched with a coal from off the altar, and yet be at heart ignorant of
those things in which he is the instructor of others. Oh, it is a lamentable
thought, but it is nevertheless true that “a man may preach like an apostle,
pray like an angel, and yet have the heart of a fiend.” * The author uses
this phrase as descriptive of those who have natural abilities of verbal
expression, either in teaching, preaching, or public praying.