There was at once a warmth,
a blandness and a child-like simplicity of manners, which made him the
idol of every heart. And he carried the same amenity of temper into all
the theological controversies of his life. He never stooped to ungracious
personalities, and never seemed to be in pursuit of victory at the
expense of truth and fairness. The result was that he was never assailed
with personalities in return. Through all the bitterest contentions which
raged around him, he was uniformly treated with respect and deference. Not
that men were ignorant of his opinions, or thought him neutral, but
because he was felt to be an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile.
He committed himself to no clique, and allowed no clique to be committed
to him.
In his personal habits he was temperate and frugal in the extreme; though
not for the sake of accumulation. His income from his books and lectures
must have been considerable; but he gave it nearly all away. Hundreds of
indigent students could testify to his generosity, while amongst the poor
of the city, there were many pensioners upon his bounty.
In regard to his intellectual gifts and powers, their peculiar cast has
already been intimated.
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