The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-02


season. But In the midst OF It all Bat
tie poor blind man, for whom all this
iloveliness ala not exist. His family
seemed well known, but they wero
poor. for their son sat by tho waysido
begging.
,rl,e lot OF blind bcggar is indeed
n hard one and vet there nre con,pen-
sations. 1ic had boil, leisure and lib
erty. He had time to think; and to
think without distraction. And though
poor md helpless, many werc kind to
him In pity. lilo had much to think
about TINT morning. The day before
a person had come to Jericho, OF whom
wonderful things were told
And now, on this bright spring
morning, Bartimaeus heard In tho dis
lance crowd coming. On they came,
and filled the street from side to side.
He reached out his hand and Braspe ed
tho nearest, as he asked. "What is it?"
The II man replied. "Jesus OF Nazareth
passeth by." Immediately Bartlmaeus
began to call, Jesus. thou son Of David,
have mercy mercy on me-"
Bartimaeis recognized the opportu-
nifty. There must have been twenty
blind men in Jericho that day, and
every one must have known that Jesus
was there None in the town could
help knowing the fact. The others
were blind when Jesus came. and Just
as blind when He went away. They
missed their great opportunity. Every
day Jesus passes by. In the street, In
the schoolroo,n. in the Office. AS we
read, walk, work or wait, He comes,
ready to bless us II we will but ask
for it.
The beggar's cry was also an utter
ance of faith. He not only recognized
an opportunity. but he found It in the
person OF Christ. He was one Of those
who. having not seen. believed. His
faith was small indeed, but It pre-
vailed. 1t made him side with those
who were with Christ, and call out to
Him for lielp.
w ituL IL VIC ldltu NhASii Sti' So A''SA' >.
It is that which makes the little child
hold tight to his fathers hand. You
cannot define It, but you see what 1t Isl.
It Is that which makes a man appeal
to Jesus Christ: in temptation, he turns
to Him for strength; IN sorrow. for
comfort: in perp1exlty, for truth. I
And Jesus heard the cry. What do
yo,, want?" says the Master. II want
to see" said the man. Blessed is he
who knows thus plainly what no needs.
Ono reason for our hating progress is
we do not know what is the matter
with us. We have a vague idea that
we are not as good as we ought to be,
and that we have various faults What
we need to do is to take our imper-
fections, ono by one. and definitely and
patiently amend them. Let the others
go; take one. and bring 1t to the Mas
ter as Bartima Gus did his blindness.
Thus we shall be cured.
The man came to Jesus blind, but
went away blind no longer. He came
a beggar: he went away a beggar no
longer. Can we see the difference be-
tween right and wrong-see the way
OF duty. see our neighbor. ourself and
God? Who Is there that can do this
clearly? Jesus Christ Will give us
sight. He Will open our eyes II we
ask for 1t in faith, as the blind man
did.
When Bartimaeus's eyes We're opened
the first thing he saw was the road
before his feet. 1t led after Jesus,
and he went along that way. He fol-
lowed Him. TIe took the gift which
the Lord had given. and used IT in that
Lords service.
Are we doing the same?