Walks and homes of Jesus . as crushed his spirit and broken his lustre of life has faded from his eye, and theexpression of interest from his face. His wholepersonal appearance is most wretched and re-volting, and the rest of the company shrinkfrom approaching or addressing him. He isshunned the more carefully for the reason thathis infirmity is known to have been caused byhis own sin, and he is looked upon as smittenof God, and accursed. He has no one to helphim wdien the favored moment comes to enterthe water. The troubled wave betrays the pres-ence of a new life that now quickens
Walks and homes of Jesus . as crushed his spirit and broken his lustre of life has faded from his eye, and theexpression of interest from his face. His wholepersonal appearance is most wretched and re-volting, and the rest of the company shrinkfrom approaching or addressing him. He isshunned the more carefully for the reason thathis infirmity is known to have been caused byhis own sin, and he is looked upon as smittenof God, and accursed. He has no one to helphim wdien the favored moment comes to enterthe water. The troubled wave betrays the pres-ence of a new life that now quickens him. Foryears he has spread his miserable mat upon thestone floor at the very edge of the pool, wait-ing for the all-healing angel to descend, butnever has he been able to enter the troubledwater in time to be made whole. And he hasgrown so old and impotent, and his long mis- BETHESDA. 129 ery has so nearly crushed the life out of him,that many wonder why he need exhaust hislittle remaining strength in creeping down to his. old place, when his continual coming has donehim no good. Many wish he Avould not cometo shock the sensibilities of others with thesight of his wretchedness. 130 WALKS AXD HOMES. On him the quiet stranger looks with a pity-ing eye, till his attention is arrested, and thenHe puts the startling question, Wilt thou bemade whole? Made whole! For what otherpurpose has he dragged his crippled frame tothat healing fountain? For what else has helonged and groaned in spirit for thirty-eightyears ? What other blessing could lie crave soearnestly, while the faintest gleam of hope con--tinned to shine in his enfeebled and darkenedmind? But now it seems almost like mockeryto ask him the question, for there is no eye topity, and no arm to help him. The healing-movement of the waters is all for others, notfor him. But the wretched man has not half utteredhis despondency, before the eye that is fixedupon him seems to kindle with a benignantand divine light. The countenance
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectjesuschrist, bookyear
