exercise the talents He has given us in such a manner as to accomplish the
greatest good and reflect the glory to the Giver. We are indebted to God
for all the qualities of the mind. These powers can be cultivated, and so
discreetly directed and controlled as to accomplish the purpose for which
they were given. It is duty to so educate the mind as to bring out the energies
of the soul and develop every faculty. When all the faculties are in exercise,
the intellect will be strengthened, and the purpose for which they were given
will be accomplished.
Many are not doing the greatest amount of good because they exercise
the intellect in one direction and neglect to give careful attention to those
things for which they think they are not adapted. Some faculties that are
weak are thus allowed to lie dormant because the work that should call
them into
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exercise, and consequently give them strength, is not pleasant. All the
powers of the mind should be exercised, all the faculties cultivated.
Perception, judgment, memory, and all the reasoning powers should have
equal strength in order that minds may be well balanced.
If certain faculties are used to the neglect of others, the design of
God is not fully carried out in us; for all the faculties have a bearing
and are dependent, in a great measure, upon one another. One cannot
be effectually used without the operation of all, that the balance may be
carefully preserved. If all the attention and strength are given to one, while
others lie dormant, the development is strong in that one and will lead to
extremes, because all the powers have not been cultivated. Some minds are
dwarfed and not properly balanced. All minds are not naturally constituted
alike. We have varied minds; some are strong upon certain points and very
weak upon others. These deficiencies, so apparent, need not and should not
exist. If those who possess them would strengthen the weak points in their
character by cultivation and exercise they would become strong.
It is agreeable, but not most profitable, to exercise those faculties which
are naturally the strongest, while we neglect those that are weak, but
which need to be strengthened. The feeblest faculties should have careful
attention, that all the powers of the intellect may be nicely balanced and all
do their part like well-regulated machinery. We are dependent upon God for
the preservation of all our faculties. Christians are under obligation to Him
to so train the mind that all the faculties may be strengthened and more fully
developed. If we neglect to do this, they will never accomplish the purpose
for which they were designed. We have no right to neglect any one of the
powers that God has given us. We see monomaniacs all over the country.
They are frequently sane upon every subject but one. The reason of this is
that one organ of the mind was specially exercised while the others were
permitted to lie dormant. The one that was in constant use became
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worn and diseased, and the man became a wreck. God was not glorified by
his pursuing this course. Had he exercised all the organs equally, all would
have had a healthy development; all the labor would not have been thrown
upon one, therefore no one would have broken down.
Ministers should be guarded, lest they thwart the purposes of God by
plans of their own. They are in danger of narrowing down the work of
God, and confining their labor to certain localities, and not cultivating a
special interest for the work of God in all its various departments. There
are some who concentrate their minds upon one subject to the exclusion
of others which may be of equal importance. They are one-idea men. All
the strength of their being is concentrated on the subject upon which the
mind is exercised for the time. Every other consideration is lost sight of.
This one favorite theme is the burden of their thoughts and the theme of
their conversation. All the evidence which has a bearing upon that subject
is eagerly seized and appropriated, and dwelt upon at so great length that
minds are wearied in following them.
Time is frequently lost in explaining points which are really
unimportant, and which would be taken for granted without producing
proof; for they are self-evident. But the real, vital points should be made
as plain and forcible as language and proof can make them. The power to
concentrate the mind upon one subject to the exclusion of all others is well
in a degree; but the constant exercise of this faculty wears upon those organs
that are called into use to do this work; it throws too great a tax upon them,
and the result is a failure to accomplish the greatest amount of good. The
principal wear comes upon one set of organs, while the others lie dormant.
The mind cannot thus be healthfully exercised, and, in consequence, life is
shortened.
All the faculties should bear a part of the labor, working harmoniously,
balancing one another. Those who put the whole strength of their mind
into one subject are greatly deficient on other points, for the reason that the
faculties are
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not equally cultivated. The subject before them enchains their attention, and
they are led on and on, and go deeper and deeper into the matter. They see
knowledge and light as they become interested and absorbed. But there are
very few minds that can follow them unless they have given the subject the
same depth of thought. There is danger of such men plowing, and planting
the seed of truth so deep that the tender, precious blade will never find the
surface.
Much hard labor is often expended that is not called for and that will
never be appreciated. If those who have large concentrativeness cultivate
this faculty to the neglect of others, they cannot have well-proportioned
minds. They are like machinery in which only one set of wheels works at
a time. While some wheels are rusting from inaction, others are wearing
from constant use. Men who cultivate one or two faculties, and do not
exercise all equally, cannot accomplish one half the good in the world that
God designed they should. They are one-sided men; only half of the power
that God has given them is put to use, while the other half is rusting with
inaction.
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If this class of minds have a special work, requiring thought, they should
not exercise all their powers upon that one thing, to the exclusion
