The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-03-11
]f!ural aud KrIiuiuns.
Beecher's Blind Church Member.

~ words 70 the LIND man.-hc Is so resigned,
81 patient. so eacer TO hear and learn the
nth His presence is perpetual ITO every
''ori Of truth, 20 every l,icus APPEAL, that is
Uttered. liz one Of the nu,nier5 CT the Isde-
p:nd.n' Of which Mr. Eeecher is regular
contributor, le relates the story of this blind
man. and lie relates it % well and makes i:
.ur.sch 50 :o,:nd doctrine for all readers to
hear. that we disposed to give it place.
There is a blind man in the church of
which am a member and the pastor, who is
exceedingly poor. lie was orce prosperous
j.. worldly a!iars. a carpenter by trade. lie
lost his sab: bv shower q linz IN his ewes
His wife was soon after run OYER h. some We
'iici:, az: q .c.,rilcn for lie. i lear IL
IL ,irl. apparently not more than four Or
i've yr"rs Oh lead, hin 10 Church! Tie
1T IN front Of the speakers platform, and
iuok FOR his .htIe.' .acc every Sah',ath, as
r.'-erly as he listens Tor my voivc My preach
j.. docs lin good. anl Ii, p.eacllira does
M God. While the congregation sngl Of
t,.n 1T AMI look at him, and receive tic last
PREPARATION for preaching. \ li,in. instance
Of cirrrulness con,cn'mcnt. patience, r,,iy-
nation. aud itr' cnt p;ctv. under circums'an-
,.s which usual, produce any other result
t'Ian these is not sight Of every day, arr!
not one which | can afford to lose without
heed lie will never know how many time,
his sro,in. Into church has struck thrill
through my heart: how many tin.e. he has
so.!encd my feelings and cncourl-, Il nc: how
,..any time, he has revealed to me, as no
words. or arguments, or apologies could, the
-tr'it;.< ii. religion and its blrsscdness Blu.
he i, 4 great trouble 20 me. And in this wise
his ra,n and modest face. often SAYS Or makes
M say. Are you ii. TO preach 10 Tia; man !:
You talk, br,vc!v about humility 70 him, and
hc H'.> it before YOU You .'r>caat upon pa
,ienr. and rontcntm"n'. Won tia. have home
and friends. books an' portfolios. occupation
aud honor and subsistence Ir,onI al; Nee,
Tor anxiety preach resignation and con
;,..;.in"I: 20 4 man who lives with a manly
md .rl'c.n. dignity uron tie charity OF his .
brethren in C:r;>:
Jlt too he trouble, IN, with ~ h thou.Al>
4, ,..v>c: You know t,sa, lie i, :, better man
than yol are more s.n:,r chill Tx. lie
.An- directly UPON God. The Lords y
PRAYER mean, something 20 him. tive n, y
hi, ,v NV daily bread" 1t Is cnly now d"
nd then th,t we meet 4 case where this ~
ition !, literal where the was:in" !oa: ut,hc I,
:. r,in. meal i. literally the only thing he
~,',n III" man and hunger; no money. no I
.rsLit. notlin. for tomorrow cxcc;. Coils /;
,ulem.rance. How cou!l !. who rcyer {!
:rcamcd Of such want-couId !, ii hal moth S
M between me and starvation day by day
Except God, 90 trust in him. that would he
enough: Could receive the word Of Chris.
Take no thought for the morrow. what We
-il,'! eat, and what We shall drink, and where
wi,ha! Won shall he clothed vour Heavenly !!
Father knoweth that We have need Of all u
these thinc~:" Anil yet is there in all the
world anvtlin. That ambition reaches at, or q
passion. that could bless the soul so much.
as the power to live composc.l!v within the
circuit Of Christ's promise. and have from
hour to hour an unli,turbel peace: We have
sometimes, when seeing a hcar,hful, laugh
in. child living in its mothers bosom. looking .
Mp as ra,.iantIv as she looked down. thought
that This was the height of sen,icnt happiness
aud I.;.:e,! the little fellow. lccar:>c having
nothing 20 compare it with. he had 10 idea
'ov lalry he w.>.
Blu: his is the very rcpoSe AID ir.,crf.!
,:css AMI joy. which belongs i'll a far higher
ncasur. 20 t..osc who know how 10 saw. Our
Father w.o AIT in Heaven: ,allo,yrd hc t;v
r'a:..o thy kingdom GENE MY wjU Z, d,no :"
I: i, 600! thing to re poor c.or a. When
is poor TIA. lie has nothin;. bu: his God.
Le ie.;ns to he rir., iu,iecl
"I'n, 10 return TO orr l3!ill friend He
t-onh.cs some Of my friends. Not willing TO
be idle, liz makes such efforts as h. can to
support himself. We carries .luut 4 few
hooks, and cndtav"r< ~ their sale to earn a
little. Now. remark how carc!,s>nes, is Of
ten cruelty. lie leaves his book on one ,iay.
and the next h goes a"out to collect the pav
vr the looks again. Some are .;:nl, so"le
indifferent: some Pay him. some return the
books AID some ID ncithrr TAcv l!o"
nothing alout-havc no, seen the books
About Mav'l,v he los. money, Being six
between leaving the books and calling ar.in.
h. iounl. vi. n able 10 srarcl: Tor them. thu,
'ai..i'ic> had removed Meme knew or cared
,ur his li,;lc lii.,ir- :, he f,unl ,..t l,oo,,
on>'nrss losing concern. anil gave It ur.-
hi. however. is incidental to Tie s.ory to be
TIL
"Oh ,:,i,inr Juds c--- thi, kind o.ul;,
''an brought some 0: his books, and gave
hlin besides little gilt Of monev-twcn,y-
tive cents. The next Sabbath WA, the oav
on which the collection wast,irn IN ourrhur,h
'or hul!d.r. churches in TIE West Tie was
much stirred In his mini lie wished t., con-
tribute hl- two >!linrs and vet feared tina,
his friend might think that he did wron, 10
give away his Means Of livelihood. D,rcyo.
'-ncc prevailed. lie Put all that he had into
thu plate. Ga Moniav h. cal.cd.o cx,l,in
:E'i a,.o!"ci," !.r the deed. \ blind nm.
!.