The Religious Herald

Buried Talents of the Church.

Can any one doubt that there lies at this moment hidden in the bosom of religious society, and dormant for want of a fitting scope for exercise, an immense amount and variety of talent, which might have been elicited and trained under happier auspices, and triumphantly employed in the prosecution of Christian objects? Amongst the myriads of men and women whose hearts have been opened to welcome the message of God's love, that marvellously expansive principle both for the intellect and the will, ought there not to be, in conformity with all the known laws of our nature, an assortment of mental and moral power in the germ, capable, when unfolded and matured, of effecting, under God's blessing the most stupendous results—

Just imagine a mass of political organization of equal extent, set in motion, too, with unfailing regularity every week, one entire day of which was especially consecrated to its action, working on to an ultimate purpose from generation to generation, and calculate if you can the number and variety of modes of action it would by this time have systematized, the agencies it would have established, the instruments it would have called out and trained, the latent capabilities it would have evoked, the efficient workmen of different pretensions it would have had at its command. That the main purpose of the churches is spiritual, offers no explanation of the lack of a similar result amongst them. Instead of solving the mystery, this fact rather increases it. Think for a moment, of the strong emotions which the first exercise of spiritual faith in the gospel usually awakens, the fresh instincts it quickens into life, the mental activity it excites, the gushing streams of warm benevolence it causes to flow, the wishes for others it inspires, and the abiding principle of well doing it implants. To what heroic enterprises might not this element of power be led forth, and disciplined and invigorated! What materials are here for moral machinery, were they but properly appreciated and sedulously put together! Neglected, they soon shrivel up, and become unavailing, like every other talent for usefulness which is buried, instead of being employed for the Master's use.—Miall's British Churches.