The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-20

young man have his eyes opened at the Sloam pool than be became brave enough and manly enough to speak the truth and tell what Jesus had done for him. He was not a craven hearted. un- grateful coward, as were his tinlid parents. He was one of those high principled true, noble fellows, who never believe in going back upon friend or Defusing to give the credit to the person who has done them a favor But be- fore we show what the true heartedness of this young man was able to do for Christ let us turn for a little while and study the parents of this blind boy. You cannot praise the boys manliness with out condemning the timidlty of the father and mother. The two parents, of all peo- pie, ought to have been most grate- full to Jesus.
 Come, let us imagine for a little while that we are sitting in the hoNe of these parents. 1t is about noon. The two cid folks are taking their dinner, The blind son Is not there, for he Is up at the temple begging, as is his wont. When his guide led him there in the morning the blind boy took his lunch along. The father has just finished his meal and he Is stretching out his arms as he walks to the door. Suddenly he turn and calls: Mother Mother! Come here, quick. Is not that our James running up the road? Look he has cast off his staff! Look! He is running as though he could see. No one Is guiding himl Look! The peo- pie are following him in great multitudes, calling: He seesi He sees. The blind boy sees! Yes, it Is our boy. and his eyes are openedl He sees. He seesN The old mother tremble with excitement. Great tears of joy are running down the fathers checks. And when the son en- ters txey stroke his hair again and again and look into his face with such deep, heartfelt gratitude. They keep saying; My boy. My boy! My boy! No longer a blind beggarl He seesl He sees!"
 How He Was Cured.
 Now what happens? No sooner Is the first exciting welcome over than the parents say to their son: My boy, who gave you these eyes. How dost thou seer" Then the son replies: Why, mother and father, this was my expeIl- ence: 1 was down near the temple begging. A man by the name of Jesus came along. He had the sweetest voice He had the gentlest touch. He made Q salve. This he rubbed upon my eyelids. Then he told me to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Oh, motheri l want you to come with me and thank Jesus for my eyes" 'Whatr says the mother. Jesus! Is it the same Jesus whom the leaders or the church are trying to kill? No. My son, don't mention his name. Why, if you do this the church leaders will eX- communicate us, and we shall never have any of our neighboEs as our friends. You have your eyes. Of course this man Jesus cannot take them away from you. Now, you had better pretend that he had noth- ing to do with the miracle" Did you ever hear anything meaner? Did you ever know of an action more contemplate than that of the parents of that young man who had received his sight? have given to you the gist of their &C., tions in my own language. Oh, yes, I know of some actions just as con- temptible. They are your actions and mine when we refuse to give God the credit for all Christ has done for us and ours. We are in exactly the same position as were these parents who re- fused to give Jesus the credit of open ing the blind eyes of their son when they said By what means he now seeth we know not, or who hath opened his eyes we know not. He Is of age: ask him. Let him speak for himself" :" Are we so cowardly that we will not give Christ the credit for what he has done for us and ours?
 But, though we would blame the craven hearted parents who would not speak one word for Jesus Christ, how gladly we turn to eulogizng the mo- bility and the bravery and the true heart edness of this man of my text, in whom the works of God were here made mani fest. No coward was he. Not tremor did he give. He was not one of those who would go with a man only long enough to get all he could out of him and then drop him. Nay. A friend with him was a friend all through. When the hirelings of the high priest came to him and said: "Tf you do not denounce th.s Jesus we will excommunicate thee," the