The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-16

pillars at either side are engraved the
words: "Let no stranger pass beyond
this on pain of DEATH" The apostles are
not strangers; they are Israelite born;
the grand Beautiful gate offers to them
as yet free invitation.
On the other side. among the columns
of Solomon's Porch, the scene is one
from which men shrink. The hopeless
ly sick, the blind, the crippled, here lie
PROSTATE in abiect beggary. Only such
display of their unsightlinese, soliciting
helpful pity of the psssers-by. is left to
these unfortunates. No hospitals, or
asylums, or organized charity has yet
existence. Beggary is for these unfor-
Inmates the alternative of starvation.
One among these pitiable objects asks
aims of the apostles. and arrests their
attention. His withered ankles testify
that he is cripple from birth. From
birth! Never in his boyhood could he
like other boys run and leap; never in
his manhood could he without assist
ance walk.
The apostles instantly read his life.
story; and the cripple must have known
who they were. They were now too
notable as apostles of the Crucifed not
to be known by all habitues of the tenn.
ple-courts.
The apostles feel the urgency of the
cripple's appeal.
2. The Lame Man Healed,--
vs.. As.
Look on as says Peter. Both the ap-
ostles fasten their eyes upon him. Sure
ly passionate love is in their gaze.
He returns their gaze; looking first
into the eyes of one apostle, then OF the
other. 1t is surprise to him that any
men should look upon him with compass
sion; it is the fashion to glance at the
beggars, and occasionally cast small
coin toward them. and pass by. But
these followers of the Nazarene look
steadfastly upon him with plying love.
The cripple's eyes express his I'M
speakable longing; unspeakable. for no
words can express the prayer of the soul
SO eloquently as the soul-possessed eyes.
The apostles, by revelation of the
Spirit, behold that the substance of
faith is in the heart of the cripple.
Through their eyes. as they continue
their gaze, the Renewing Spirit flows
We pause at one of the facts we cannot
explain. From the time men began to
live on the earth, the eye has been a
medium of unexplainable power Men
when science rises, will name this mys-
FERROUS power fascination, or mesmerism
or hypnotism. 1t will. however, be q
mystery still.
The cripple, from the eyes of the apos'
ties, receives the regenerating thrill OF
ravishing hope.
Peter now speaks: SilUer and gold
haze none; but aohdt haze that giue
unto thee: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, aoalk.
The cripple feels Immediately a tide
of health pervade mis- body. Peter ex-
tends to him his right hand, conveying
by physical touch yet more of the pow
or of the Spirit. The restoring life goes
where it is needed. Immediately has
feet and ankle bones receive strength
Soon the cripple, with Peters help
rises to his feet. He stands; for the
first time in his life he stands alone. He
begins to walk,-literally begins. In all
his life hitherto he has not known what
it is to walk.
The new made man is for a moment
dazsd. But anon his senses return to
him. He knows that he has been res
tored by the power of the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth. He is in moment
made Christian.
He is,-of course he must be,-a CRATE.
full and exultant Christian. He. with
the apostles, enters into the temple. He
will, at their invitation, worship with
them,-oh. how gladly! He Wake
What can restrain his jubilant graft
tude? He leaps. He praises God.
3. Peter breaches Christ to
the Wondering PeOple,-vs. GIG
These occurrences we're all crowded
into few intense minutes. A throng
of people. attracted by the exciting
novelty of the scene. had meanwhile
quickly gathered on the pavement front
ing Solomons Porch.
After the restored cripple bad with the
apostles disappeared into the Court of
the Women, the crowd.-a large portion
being by foreign birth deharred from
following,-lingered in the place where
the wonder of healing had been wrought.
Those who had known the cripple as an
habitual alms-seeker at the temple-gate,
gave testimony to the crowd out OF their
personal knowledge,-they declared that
he was the same man who had, in the
sight of all, walked and leaped as he had
accompanied Peter and John into the
inner temple-court.
When Peter and John, accompanied
by the restored lame man, returned
through the Gate Beautiful, the crowd
Immediately surged around them.
The grateful man, who had been de-
livered from his lifelong misfortune
held Peter and John. He claye to them
in passionate gratitude. The multitude