The New York herald., 1869-03-15
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.
The forty sixth concluding verses Of the tenth
chapter Of st. Marks gospel was selected by the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as the text OF his dis
course last evening. The miracle OF the blind man,
Bartimeus the son OF Timeus, who sat by the way
side begging as Jesus passed by receiving
his sight and the circumstances attending 1T were
eloquenty described In the commencement Of the
sermon, and the reverend gentleman dwelt at con-
siderable length on the manner In which The Jews
of the period travelled from place to place. There
was vast concourse OF people passing from Jericho
to Jerusalem, and Jesus and His disciples were
among the number. Bartlmeus, when he heard
that Jesus whose name was known throughout the
length and breadth OF the land, was passing by he
raised his voice above the patterng OF feet and the
hum Of the muttude and cried out, Jesus, thou
son of David, have mercy on me.n He did not want
to ask who what Jesus was; he was satisfied
to learn that he VINO bade the sea 70 be still
turned the water into wine and made the blind to
see was passing before him. Not in the usual
whining, begging manner OF the helpless men
fully. He sounded q note that was discord-
ant TO the multitude. The Jews were q festive
people, singing songs. patriotic and religious, as
they jOurneyed from city to city, when therefore
the poor blind Bartimeus struck In on this occasion
ne was quite unwelcome Men who have their minds
good time, don't like to be turned from 1t by the
pleadngs OF poor wretch like Bartimeus. No single
heart ION record At any rats felt pity ior the poor
stood still and listened to the prayer earnestly
made. They who at first Dade him to mold his peace
now said, "Be OF good comfort, rise he calleth
theen How true 1t is that when man Is determined
his very obstacles turn to his success The cry that
he raised above the din Of the passing multitude
was the voice Of all the suffering that he had en-
dured through le All his appreciation OF the bliss
OF existence was in that cry. No wonder it went to
the Masters heart Christ stood still and then said
ssGo thy way; thy faitn hath made thee WHOLE" The
man arose and followed Jesus, while the multitude
glorifled God. OND
The man knew he was blind, and felt yearning
for the light OF the and the beauty OF flowers.
His blindness was only skin deep, but he felt the de-
feet keenly and was not ashamed to confess 1t
aloud. Our waystdes are Hlled with men who are SO
blind that they cannot behold the heavens but who
are ignorant Of the Iact- The events that mark
the administration Of Gods goodness and mercy are
daily occurring around them; but they are stone
blind-spIrituaily bltnd-and cannot see. To such
Jesus is always passing by; but they can neither
hear They live and move In ignorance and are
content with It, What contrast Is afforded In the
text. Bartimcns' knowledge OF Jesus was merely
hearsay; of course he never saw him, but his faith
was great TO most people. Jesus is known. The
knowledge OF him fs the web and the wO0f OF their
whole lives. The most Affecting "reminiscences OF
childhood are entwined around that sacred name.
Yet Jesus Is constantly passing BY them unnoticed.
The reverend gentler3an concluded by an eloquent
appeal to the congregation to call upon God while
he was was passing.