The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-16
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THE BLIND MANS CREED.

THE BLIND MANS CREED.
Text, "One thing l know-whereas was
blind, now l see."-John tx, 26.
st. John was evidently very much
interested in this blind man. He has
devoted the whole ninth chapter of the
book to him. a 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 he was interested
and that the event was of much impor-
tance. John was the disciple of love.
Love is sympathetic. Love is also
blind, 1t Is said. Love has imagina-
tion, so John could put himself in the
blind mans place. The blind miss SO
much-the green freshness of spring.
the mellowness of summer. the glories
Of autumn, the marvels of winter. "As
Christ passed by he saw 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. land
scapes. It's curious to hear folks tell
"hus thCy oa w III Wdih-d uIcSS, a
face, an automobile, a sick child. Je-
sus saw blind man. What did his
disciples see? His face was full of
pity. theirs full of prying curiosity.
Who did sin. this man or his father
that he was born blind% There's .
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 IL that is the man
born blind" say they. l like the way
the man talked. The neighbors did
not appeal to him, but he. hearing the
debate. interposed and settled the
whole matter. 81 am he." He is a
bold man who tries to rectify the mis-
takes of his nelghbors. 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 it gave
you 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 I
know, was blind, now l seer That
| sounds like the bark Of a FIVE inch
rapidfre gun. My creed has twenty
FIVE articles of religion; another has
thirty-nine. This mans creed had but
one-"I can seew Most of us stand up
reverently on Sunday morning and re-
| peat the Apostles Greed. 1t is a good
thing. suppose the larger creed is
the better-if man believes it-that is.
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 Greed 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 can t
believe much. Thomas Chalmers was
once skeptic; so were Robert Hall and
Christmas Evans. l remember how
much Jesus had to say in appreciation
of faith as large as mustard seed.
And Paul said, Him that Is weak in
the faith receive you" If your creed
is an experience it is easy to believe.
When they asked this blind man the
illogical question he was unable to an
swer. but what he knew he could have
shouted from the hOusetops. Zone
thing / know-I seep' You could not
cry time he saw bird fly or leaf
hutter he could feel his creed over
again-"I seew trail hitter spoke
IN my church last week. In the coal
region OF Pennsylvania he'd been a
drunkard for twenty-five years. The
Lord had saved him from sin and TAX
en- away his appetite for drink. You
couldn't argue that man out of his ex
perience IL you talked seven years and
seven months. Our fathers used t.
talk of experiencing religion" We
sons of later years lengthen our ears
= when we ridicule the expression.
Tho Unanswersble Argument
The power of Christianity has no
been knowledge. logic or miracle, bu
individuals. changed hearts and lives
: Christianity is most OF all life. Th'
salt that saved the old Roman worlt
with all its rottenness and crumblint
civilization was Christianity. Pau
told his experiences to Agrippa. On'
thing he knew. Job says, II know
that my Redeemer liyeth." Davit
says. II know that the Lord is grea
above ALL" Martha says, II know tina
he shall rise again. Paul says, I"
know whom I have believed" Men o
one idea? Surely. But 1t Is such mel
who have arrived at definite some
where. Howard in prison reform
Garrison slavery, Howe sewing ma
chine. Wesley holiness, Watt steam
engine, Stevenson locomotive. Fultol
> steamboat, Columbus new world. On
, thing they knew This blind ma
hadn't much chance for knowledge
!. There were no Institutions for tn
5 blind, no raised letters. nothing but {
sit in the darkness He didn't try t
pit his knowledge of prophecy and tn
Messiah and the legality of Sabbat
healing against the priests. but ther