The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-18

enough and manly enough to speak tn,
truth and tell what Jesus had done foI
him. He was not a craven hearted. I'm
grateful coward, as We're his timiC
parents. He was one of those higl
principled, true noble fellows who new
err believe in going back upon {
friend or refusing to give the credit
to the person who has done them ia
yor. But before we show what the
true heartedness of this young mar
was able to do for Christ let lis turn
for little while and study the parents
of this blind boy. You cannot praise
the boys manliness without condemn
ing the timidity of the father and
mother. These two parents. Of all PEG
p,e. ought$to have been most grateful
to Jesus.
Come. let us imagine for a little
while that we are sitting in the home
of these parents 1t is about noon.
The two old folks are taking their din
ner. The blind son is not there, for
he is ND 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 turns 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 him! Look! The
people are following him in great null
titudes calling: He sees! He sees!
The blind boy sees! Yes, 1T is our
boy. and his eyes are opened! He
sees! He sees!" The old mother trem-
bles with excitement. Great tears of
joy are running down the fathers
cheeks. And when the son enters they
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 q blind beggar! He sees! He
seesW
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
seeY Then the son replies: why,
mother and father. this was my expe-
rience: l 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 a salve. This he rubbed upon
my eyelids. Then he told me to go
and wash in the pool of Sloan. Oh,
mother! l want you to come with me
and thank Jesus for my eyes" What"
says the mother. "Jesus? Is it the
same Jesus whom the leaders of the
church are trying to kill? No. My
son, don't mention his name. Why if
you do this the church leaders will ex-
us, and we shall never
have any of our neighbors 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 nothing 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.
tons in my own language. Oh, yes,
know of some other actions just as con-
temptible. They are your actions and
mine when we refuse to give God the
credit for al 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
ng the blind eyes of their son when
hey said: by what means he now
'eeth we know not, or who hath open
I'd his eyes we know not He is of
lge; ask him. Let him speak for him
elf" Are we so cowardly that we
will not give Christ the credit for what
lie has done for us and ours?
But, though we would blame the
raven hearted parents who would not
peak one word for Jesus Christ, how
lady we turn to eulogizing the no
'ility and the bravery and the true
of this man of my text, in
whom the works of God were here
lade manifest. No coward was he.
Tot tremor did he have He was not
ne of those who would go with a man
My long enough to get all he could
ut Of him and then drop him. Nay |
! friend with him was a friend all |
trough. When the hirelings of the |
high priest came to him and said, "If |
ou do not denounce this Jesus we will |
xcommunicate thee" the young mans
yes flashed and his hand clinched
nd his cheeks flushed as he proudly
fitted his head and scornfully answer
d: Il will not deny him. You may
i'll me if you like. l will never 20
Jack on the Jesus who has done so
1uch for me. Whether he be a sinner
r not, know not. One thing | know
hat, whereas was blind, now see."
The Result of His Courage.
And what was the result of this
Dung mans testimony? Though he
ad the smallest conviction of Christ.
hough he could not tell who Jesus
yas In the broad Christian conception.
lough he could only say, HE opened
~ eyes. and l see," yet that young
lan's testimony was able to win many
isciples to the cross. Have you not
FAD the chapter Of my text? No soon
r had this young man told his simple
-ory than there was a division among
lie, multitudes. Some still scoffed
Christ. Some will always scoff.
ut some who came to scoff knelt and
rayed, for the Bible says, Others said.
.ow can man that is a sinner do
~. u