ðɪs smˈɔːl bˌʌt ˌɪntəlˈɛktʃuːəli ɪŋklˈaɪnd pɹˈɑːɾɪstənt sˈɛkt, hæd ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd hɪz pətˈɛnʃəl tˈælənt æz ɐ pɹˈiːtʃɚ ænd faɪnˈænst ɐ pˈiəɹɪəd ʌv tɹˈeɪnɪŋ fɔːɹ hˌɪm æz ɐ lˈeɪ ɪvˈændʒɪlˌɪst fɹʌm wˈɪtʃ hiː ɡˈeɪnd kənsˈɪdɚɹəbəl kˈɑːnfɪdəns ɪn pˈʌblɪk spˈiːkɪŋ ænd dᵻbˈeɪt.
This small but intellectually inclined Protestant sect, had recognised his potential talent as a preacher and financed a period of training for him as a lay evangelist from which he gained considerable confidence in public speaking and debate.