144
Gospel Workers 1915
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Concentration—Some have cultivated the habit of too great con-
centrativeness. The power to fix the mind upon one subject to the
exclusion of all others, is good to a limited degree, but those who put
the whole strength of the mind into one line of thought are frequently
deficient on other points. In conversation these become tedious, and
weary the listener. Their writings lack a free, easy style. When they
speak in public, the subject before them holds their attention, and they
are led on and on, to go deeper and deeper into the matter. They seem
to see knowledge and light as they become interested and absorbed,
but there are few who can follow them.
There is danger that such men will plant the seed of truth so deep
that the tender blade will never find the surface. Even the most essen-
tial, manifest truths, those which are of themselves clear and plain,
may be so covered up with words as to be made cloudy and indistinct.
* * * * *
Simplicity—Argument is good in its place, but far more can be
accomplished by simple explanations of the word of God. The lessons
of Christ were illustrated so clearly that the most ignorant could readily
comprehend them. Jesus did not use long and difficult words in His
discourses; He used plain language, adapted to the minds of the com-
mon people. He went no farther into the subject He was expounding
than they were able to follow Him.
[170]
Ministers should present the truth in a clear, simple manner. There
are among their hearers many who need a plain explanation of the
steps requisite in conversion. The great masses of the people are
more ignorant on this point than is supposed. Among graduates from
college, eloquent orators, able statesmen, men in high positions of
trust, there are many who have given their powers to other matters,
and have neglected the things of greatest importance. When such men
form part of a congregation, the speaker often strains every power to
preach an intellectual discourse, and fails to reveal Christ. He does
not show that sin is the transgression of the law. He does not make
plain the plan of salvation. That which would have touched the hearts
of his hearers, would have been to point them to Christ dying to bring
redemption within their reach.