We are told that he was " plain and powerful in preaching, fervent in prayer ", " a discerner of other men's spirits, and very much master of his own ", skilful to " speak a word in due season to the conditions and capacities of most, especially to them that were weary, and wanted soul's rest "; " valiant in asserting the truth, bold in defending it, patient in suffering for it, immovable as a rock ".
22.
In 1897 Russell agreed that Christ would have made a " choice of " one channel " for dispensing the meat in due season [ emphasis in the original ] " and while he did not refer to that " one channel " as an individual, Russell did apply to it the personal pronoun " he " ( for example : " if unfaithful he will be deposed entirely " ), and noted " whoever the Lord will so use, as a truth-distributing agent, will be very humble and unassuming " and " he would not think of claiming authorship or ownership of the truth ."