The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-13

realm of material cause and effect of all
ordinary and natural healing. 1t was
supernatural. And from it we may
learn there is power above, or superior
to nature: wonderful, mighty, infinite
power, interested in the mending of
man and his ways.
Second: We may see the loving faith.
fulness of our Saviour in his promise to
his disciples. whom he had told, having
faith in him they should do more won
derful things tina he had done. What
great power. though visibly absent. he
still exercised on earth. and what an
admirable change had been wrought in
the man Peter through faith in his L ord!
How strongly in contrast his conduct in
this case with that of denying Christ
thrice, land cursing and swearing he
knew not the man." Come near to
Christ; see in him the revelation of
Gods ever watchful care and love, and
grow strong and true, and noble.
Third: We see that faith is not only
important in receiving blessings, but
equally so 10 bestowing them. in doing
good. Peter only performed, as we
would say. this wonderful restoration
through his uns werving faith in the
Saviour. 1t was evidently not the lame
mans faith that cured him. He had no
faith, no expectation, no thought of being
cured of his physical ailment since birth.
He DOLLY expected and looked for aims.
And. as Peter would have proved impo-
tent in his attempt to do this good work
without his perfect faith in his Saw ,ur.
Jesus Christ, 30 we will fail in any
good work we undertake without such
faith.
1t is true we cannot be saved without
faith in him, but it is just as true we
cannot save others without such faith.
These and other valuable instructions
readily appear by study of this
wonderful occurrence. 1t is, on lis face.
SO clear and suggestivein its matter and
manner, it needs no helper to correct
understanding of it's import.
But then, you know, we must have
helpers. And many times they are of
great assistance, but some times they
confuse and annoy us, rather than aid.
l had one not long ago in my Sunday
school, when this very passage was the
lesson, and he commenced in his digni-
fed and learned way to explain by say
ing.'1 premise that all cases of apostolic
healing result from faith in the name OF
Christ that is, the physical healing is
wrought through the changed spiritual
state of those who believe in the Divine
Providence which Jesus reveals" /
could not exactly see the relevancy of
this premise" to the lesson, but having
sought his help could but listen. And
he continued after while: ut is we'll
grounded belief that bodily ills in gen.
eral have spiritual origin "a we'll
grounded beliefw l had never heard
that before; or remember seeing it init
mated by any one whose judgment l
felt l could rely on. | was surprised. l
remembered, however, having friend
with one of Jobs comforters on his nose,
which he considered very serious bod
lily ailment; and. unexpectedly | sup
pose. wondered if that had spiritual
origin. l knew another man intensely
interested in rearing building, and in
moving his position to attend to his
work he missed his footing and fell and
broke his ribs; that was quite a serious
bodily ailment. Another working at
machine became 80 intent on his work
that. before he knew it. three fingers
were cut off his right hand; considerably
of bodily ailment for the remainder of
his life. Were these of spiritual orr
gin?
or course these queries were only
mental, and my helper continued:
Against all exceptions and seeming
reversals, the rule holds good that physi-
cal ills begin 10 the mind" Ga! the
mind now; spirit before; is there no diff
ference? Well then. fevers and measles
and rheumatism, and whooping cough,
and white swellings and consumption.
and earache and toothache and neural
gia. all "begin in the mind" What a
pity they do not remain there and end
there! What misery. pain and death it
would have saved mankind FRONT Pain
and death are physical disturbances or
dissolution. and could not occur in the
mind. which is immaterial.
But my helper, not recognizing my
doubling comments, went on With
can't recall all the queer assertions. l
was 80 dazed by their absurdity. but l
caught "joy is curative" and content in
the heart" something-and looked up
at my helper to see what it could all
mean. What was he endeavoring to do
with the lesson?
Joy is curative" But 10 the case
before us the cure came first; and the
applicable assertion is reversed. And
content in the heart" Why my dear
helper. who ever before heard that con-
tent or discomfort was seated lin the
hearth" Are you demented?
or course these comments and refec
tions were not audible. because having
invited the helper it would not do to
show such disrespect for him before the
class. The closing of his remarks re-
vealed the secret OF his strange and in