Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-17


In thy blindness, wilt thou not GOT
A brave Begasr.
But there IL another fact you must
bear well in mind. No sooner did this
young man have his eyes opened at the
Sloan pool than he became brave
enough and manly enough to speak the
truth and tell what Jesus had done for
him. He was not a craven hearted, I'M
grateful coward, as were his tlmid
parents. He was one Of those high
princlpled. true noble fellows who new
er believe in going back upon a
friend or refusing to give the credit
to the person who has done them a ia
vor. But before we show what the
true hesrtedness of this young man
was able to do for Christ let lis turn
for n little while and study the parents
of this blind boy. You cannot praise
the boys manliness without condemn
ing the tlnidity Of the father and
mother. These two parents, OF all peo
pie, ought to have been most grateful
to Jesus.
Come. let US imagine for 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 up ut 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, II Is our
boy and his eyes are opened! He
sees, He secsw 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 a deep
heartfelt gratitude. They keep saying:
"My boy! My boy. My boy. No
longer a blind beggar! He sees He
sees!'
How lie Wns Cured.
Now what happens? No sooner Is tho
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 expe-
Renee: 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 salve. This he rubbed upon
my eyelids. Then he told me to go
and wash in the pool Of Sloan. Oh,
mother! I 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-
communicate us, and we shall never
have any of our neighbors rs 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 pothng to
do with the miracle" Did you ever
hear anything meaner? Did you ever
know OF an action more contemplate
than that IF tha paroptS ~ tbot voup1
man who had received his sight?
have given to you the Rist Of their ac-
tons In my own language Oh, yes,
know Of some other actions just as con-
temptlble. 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 open
ed his eyes we know not He Is of
age; ask him. Let him speak for him
self" Are we SO cowardly that we
will not give Christ the credit for what
he has done for us and ours2
But. though we would blame the
craven hearted parents who would not
speak one word for Jesus Christ, how
gladly we turn to eulogizing the no.
bility and the bravery and the true
heartedness Of this man Of my text in
whom the works Of God were here
made manifest. No coward was he
Not tremor did he have. 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 friend all
through. When the hirelings Of the
high priest came to him and said, 1T
you do not denounce this Jesus We will
excommunicate thee" the young mans
eyes flashed and his hand clinched
and his checks flushed as he proudly
lifted his head and scornfully answer
ed: II will not deny him. You may
kill me If you like. l will never so
back on the Jesus who has done so
much for me. Whether he be a sinner
or not, know not. One thing know
that, whereas was blind, now / see"
The Result of His Courage.
And what was the result of this
young mans testimony? Though he
had the smallest conviction Of Christ,
tbouch ha could not toll v-bo Jacuu