The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-24
RECEIVING LIGHT IS S7EELE'S THEME. How Blind Man Succeeded Through Perseverance LIFTED UP HIS VOICE So Man Today Who Wishes New Light Must Lift Up His Voice and
 Persevere in His
 Efforts.
 
LIFTED UP HIS VOICE

Receiving New Light" was the sub ject of a sermon yesterday morning by the Rev. I. D. Steele, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Us $, A. The text was taken from Mark x51, reading, Lord, that l might re- ceive my sight" Dr. Steele spoke In part as follows:
 "The works of Jesus never lose their great charm. He stands in the history of the world as the unapproachable teacher of great truths. His teachings touch directly the welfare of all men in this life. He Is the only teacher of the way of life in the great beyond. His life and works were helpful to the man. In our lesson today He blesses blind man by restoring his sight.
 This bit of history in the life of Christ in healing the blind man IS given by three witnesses, Mark, Luke and Matthew. But Matthew says there were two blind men. This does not weaken my faith as to the historical put COnuTiliS u. AohO an illustration John Smith told me he saw a blind beggar. John Dobson said he saw the same blind man. John Boyd said he saw two blind men at the same place. I have no reason to doubt any of tn csc statements. So I see no req son to doubt this Bible statement. Mark knew the blind man and gives his name, blind Bartimaeus, implying he was a well known character. He also gives his fathers name.
 "This blind man saw more than some who had eyes. Many in that day saw Jesus to no purpose. They saw Him. but saw no good in Him, though His life was devoted to doing good. They saw no help in Him, though He helped humanity on all sides They saw in Him an evil doer, an imposter, yet His deeds and His works they could not answer.
 See Christ to No Purpose. Many see Christ to no purpose to- day. His life, His teachings do not enter into their lives They have heard Ills sermons, they have seen His life, but all amounts to nothing with them. They are like the blind man before Jesus came along he was try ing to make money. Men are today blind to the great treachings of Jesus. It is a great thing to have ones spiritual eyes opened. It was a mar velous contrast that blind man expert ! enced between blindness and sight. How changed everything appeared to him. He recast his notions and opin . ions as to how things really were. He saw them in the real light of nature and of God. There are many today sitting by the roadside of this world 1 begging for the things of the world. 1 while Christ and the gospel opportun- ities are passing by. They are in the darkness of sin, in rags of spiritual poverty. They see nothing in the gos- i pol and see nothing in Christ.
 ''The blind man used what he had. He had ears and heard the passing of 1 the crowd. He asked what 1t all meant. 1 When told it was Jesus passing, he determined to use his voice in calling Him. He called with all his might, Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me- Many told him to hush, he was making too much fuss, that 1t was not the thing to do. But he only lifted I his voice still higher and called the louder. Whenever you set about doing any good thing in this world many will tell you to hush, especially if it is out l of will is all useless.
 Earnestness Resulted in Victory.
 Had the blind man hush ed he would have missed the great thing of his life. They thought he wanted to ask Christ for money, but he never tn ought of begging coppers. N was open eyes, he wanted. His earnestness resulted in victory. If we receive anything great in spiritual blessings, behind it must be earnestness.
 "The Lord will never pass by one l who is in dead earnest for his eyes to be opened. There are thousands who would not object to having Dnrist pardon their sins, but they are not in earnest about it. They are easily quieted, they hush at the least oppo- sition. Triumphant faith will not be stopped by any opposers. The blind man became church member at once whe he had his eyes opened. He fol- lowed Jesus in the way. He no doubt became an enthusiastic member.
 Some one said, what would the church members do if all the buns and toughs on the outside were to come on the insiS and join the church? Would the church members and the we'll dressed people quit and get out? NO. There would be change in those who came in. They would no longer continue buns and toughs. Their eyes would be opened; they would see things in a different light. Tn cir sinful lives would be left behind them. They would have a high aim and purpose in all their efforts in life.
 How different life would look to them. There would be a cleaning up and clearing out of the old life. They would be new creatures in Christ Jesus. They would follow Him in the way, proyiding for themselves and caring for those dependent on them. The church has received thousands of buns and thieves and gross sinners. But tn Q mower of God opened their eyes and their whole lives were changed"
 l
 May Not Be Guilty.