Evening journal., 1916-01-26

the nfth chapter OF JOnn, Ol jesus
healing the paralytic by the Bethes-
da pool, let us endeavor to learn
Christ's method in the healing OF hu-
man souls. For every type OF physi-
cal ailment which Jesus cured is typl-
cal OF some form of spiritual disease
which also Christ can heal FOR IN
stance, the blind man whom Christ
restored to sight is a type OF the
blindness Of the soul. so lameness,
deafness and leprosy. But no disease
is more clearly a type Of sin than IS
paralysis. A lame man or dear
man or a blind man can in many
ways help himself, but that is not
true of a paralytic. There is nothing
that he can do in himself and OF
himself and by himself and for him
self. This is the exact condition OF
the sinner away from God. He IS
absolutely helpless to change his
condition, without divine power.
Here was a case of great need. For
thirty-eight years this man had been
a poor, helpless paralytic. We find
him with a multitude Of OTHERS lying
by the Bethesda poor. waiting for the
moving OF the waters. Like many
ternal application or condition 10 af-
feet a cure. Is not this clear picture
OF this old world tonight? Multitudes
are lying by the various pools Of life
waiting for something 10 move the
waters.
Many are lying by the political
pools, hoping that some stroke OF
lightning at the caucus or the pri-
mary, or the polls will bring them
position and reputation and ollice.
There is no more Ditiable spectacle
than to see men willing to crawl in
the slime, sacrifice principle and
honor and character, merely to gain
popularity with the crowd.
others are lying by the financial
pool, hoping that some turn OF the
card or the wheel, some lucky strike
or fortune or investment, will bring
them wealth. Others are lying by
the social pool. They are trying to
get into some social set; to become
the leader and the favorite in some
party or club or function. / have
heard of a "Mr. Newly Rich, VINO
went over to England in his yacht
and offered two thousand pounds to
any British charity, if the Prince OF
Wales, now King George, could be
induced to come and dine upon his
Yacht. He wanted to come back TO
America with the social prestige this
incident would give him.
There are multitudes smitten witt
sins. conscious Of their needs. that
are seeking all sources OF man-made
devices to obtain salvation from SIN
and the assurance OF everlasting lite'
For example there are the people by
the ethical pool. They are holding
that a moral bath. a conformity to
social customs, politeness Of manner
and external courtesy are all tha'
can reasonably be demanded. They
constantly talk about new thought
advanced opinions and high ideals
but all Of these things, like the water
in the pool, is something outside ol
their lives.
There are also the people by the
philanthrOpic pool. Many are seek
ing to atone for their evil deeds ant
sinful lives by giving literally OF
their money for charitable purposes
They are hoping that the bath of be
nevolence will purge them from theil
sins.
Then there is the pool Of culture
They say that at the fountain OF
learning you will find the source o
perpetual youth. But with all theil
knowledge they have seemed to have
failed to discover the fact that II
mere intellectual attainment there Il
no hope for eternal life.
Into the midst of this throng o
hopeless, impotent folk, lying by thu
Bethesda pool, waiting for the NOV
ing Of the waters, there came noble
figure. who paused before this help
less paralytic and bending over hin
nut TO him this question, wilt thol
be made whole?" He was none othe
than Jesus Christ. the Son of God, ant
the question that He put to tina
helpless man that day, IS the sam
question that He is putting TO yol
tonight. "Wilt thou be made whole!
/ would be willing to stop for mo
ment this discourse, that each OF yo
might answer for yourself, for upol
your reply to this question depend
your eternal destiny. Someone ma
saw. But cannot be saved" Blu
that is not the question. 1t is, ID
Won want to be saved?" Our live
follow our likes. The things we lov
are the things that make us. IN
great hindrance to human salvatio
Is not a lack of ability OF opportun
ity. II is the lack of right desire.
Let me illustrate this from my ow
experience. When l was at the hea
Of an educational institution in an
other State, there came up. at tn
opening of the college year
schedule, a young fellow very fash
ionably dressed, almost dudish !
appearance. He said to me, Are 20
the president of this schoOl?' | rC
piled, 81 am. What can l do for you
"Oh," he replied, "guess you can't d
very much for me. l think / hav
gone a little farther than you
course goes, but / was at home thi
year with nothing special to do so
thought / would come here and pi
in my time" well, we will do fc
YOU all we can" | answered. a
pleasantly as 1 could, and suggeste
various studies for him to take tn;
term. But he would meet each sui
gestion with a scoffing laugh, sayin
81 have finished that" Among othC
branches l advised him to take Eni
lish literature. "Oh, no." said he,
do not want that. L finished literatul
long ago" Then said to him, "Youn
man, l am very glad to see you
'Why?" Because at last have four
someone that finished literature.
studied il for nearly four years, an
got scarcely started. and now / hay
the privilege OF seeing one that hi
finished the subject"
Come to find out. he had had tN