August 6

Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him. — 1 JOHN iii. 22.

Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. — LUKE xviii. 42.

IT was a blind man and a beggar to whom these gracious words were spoken. Only one said anything so kind to him. The multitude counted him a nuisance with his importunity, and angrily told him to keep still. The disciples gave him no encouragement. As in the case of the children brought to Jesus, they were cold, while their Lord was ardent with compassion. But the character of the "Son of David" was exactly drawn in the Psalms of David: "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper" (Psalm lxxii. 12). The more lonely, wretched, needy, and friendless any man was, the more sure was he of hearing and help from the great Deliverer.

The cry of need and of faith was the one thing the Master could never resist. "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard, . . . nothing shall be impossible to you."

Bartimeaus went away with his eyes opened. That was his petition and request. What is yours? The Lord is just the "same Jesus" that he was that day. "What wilt thou?" "According to your faith be it unto you."

P. D. Marling

Look down in pity, Lord, we pray, On eyes oppressed by moral night, And touch the darkened lids, and say The gracious words, "Receive thy sight" Then in clear daylight shall we see Where walked the sinless Son of God, And aided by new strength from thee, Press onward in the path he trod.

W. C. BRYANT.