The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-04-29
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REySAMUELW. PUgyIS,D.D.
IHE BLIND MANS CREED.

st John was evidently very much
Interested In this blind man. He has
devoted the whole ninth chapter of the |
book to him. u very exceptional thing.
As Boswell showed his interest in the
life of johnson and Abbot In the life
of Napoleon. so John in this little
sketch showed that lie was interested
and that the event was Of much impOr-
lance John was the disciple of love |
Love Is sympathetic. Love Is also
blind. it Is said. Love has imagina-
ton. so John could put himself in the
blind mans place. The blind miss so
much-the green freshness, Of spring.
the melIOwness of summer. the glOries
of autumn. the marvels of winter. las
Christ passed by he saw il blind man,"
Looking Is not always seeing. Christ
saw as he walked Folks mostly see
what they look for-four leafed clOvers,
flowers. babies, buildings. clouds. iand-
scapes It's curious to hear folks tell
what they saw in n walk-a dress. Il
face. an automobile. a sick child. Je-
sus saw a blind man. What did his
disciples see! His face was full Of
pity, theirs full of prying curiosity.
who did SIM this man or his father
that he was born blind?" There's a
curiosity that is cruel
Articles Of Religion.
| The neighbors were also curious
Curiosity is not feminine, it is human
Eve was not more curious than FAC
chaeus. wonder If that is the man
born blind?" say they. | like the way
the man talked. The ncighbors did
not appeal to him. but he. hearing the
debate. interposed and settled the
whole matter. Il am he." He Is a
bold man who tries to rcctify the mis-
takes of his neighbors. Then the rul-
ers started to- cross question him
They wanted to know how he was
| cured. Interested in methods rather
than men. Next: who was 1t gave
yon sight? Since 1t was done on the
Sabbath day. was he a sinner" He
doesn't know any Of these things, but
his answer Is refreshing. One thing |
know. I was blind. now I seer' That
sounds like the bark Of Eve inch
rapidiire gun My creed has twenty.
five articles of religion: another has
thirty nine. This mans creed had but
, onc-"I can see!'' Most of us stand up
rcverently on Sunday morning and re-
peat the Apostles Greed. 1t IS a good
thing | suppose the larger creed Is
| hn hot holt ftnf 10
as this man believed his, with his
whole being. Some of us believe too
/ much. Not more than is true. but
more than we can respond to.
A Creed of Experience.
When the Master was upon the earth
he satisfied different people In differ.
ent ways. He wasn't the same Christ
to each. To the hungry he was bread
to the thirsty drink, to the deaf hear
, ing. to the blind sight. to the crippled
: power of locomotion That's all they
knew Of Christ. Their need was their
!. creed | won't fight folks who cant
believe much. Thomas Chalmers was
once Il skeptic; so were Robert Hall ant
Christmas Evans. | remember how
much Jesus had to say in appreciation
+ Of faith as large as a mustard seed
And Paul said, Him that is weak ir
/, the faith receive you" If your creed
J, is an experience it is easy to believe
When they asked this blind man the
: ologlcal question he was unable to an
: swer. but what he knew lie could have
shouted from the hoTsetops. "On,
!: thing know-I seer You could no
d separate that man from his creed. Ev
n cry time he saw bird Fly or lea,
= tiutter he could feel his creed ovel
:. again-"I see!" a trail hitter" spok.
:, 9 in my church last week In the Goa
h region of Pennsylvania he'd been {
: drnnkard for twenty-five years. Tit
: Lord had saved him from sin and TAX
d en- away his appetite for drink. Yo,
couldn't argue that man ont of his ex
pcrience If yon talked seven years ant
= seven months. Our fathers used t,
talk of experiencing religion" W.
: sons Of later years lengthen our ear
: when we ridicule the expression.
The UnansWerabte Argument.
The power Of Christianity has no
/. been knowledge. logic or miracle, bu
individuals. changed hearts aud lives
i Christianity is most Of all life TIL
salt that saved the old Roman worl
l. with Ill its rottenness and crumblin
civilization was Christianity. Par
told his experiences to Agrippa. On
t. thing he knew. Job says. Il kno,
d that my Redeemer Iiveth." Davi
70 says. Il know that the Lord is gre;l
1t above ALL" Martha says. Il know tina
u he shall rise again" Paul says. .
- know whom I have believed" Men G
i one idea? Surely But 1t Is such me
% who have arrived at definite som,
,e where. Howard In prison reform
J. Garrison slavery. Howe sewing N;
; chine, Wesley holiness. Watt steaI
= engine Stevenson locomotive. Fnltu
70 steamboat. Columbus new world Or
r thing they knew. This blind ma
hadn't much chance for knowledg
t. blind. no raised letters. nothing but
Fl Sit in the darkness He didn't try
~ pit his knowledge of prophecy and Il
m Messiah and the legality OF Sabba1
s. healing against the priests. but the
was one point where he was positiv
a. we'll educated. one thing he knew
whereas he was blind. he could no
- see. Talk rs men will against Chri
and Christianity. but. when all Is sa
! and done what about this blind maj