that he only saw " men as trees walking." Afterwards his eyesight was restored completely, and he " saw every man clearly." In this respect the miracle stands entirely alone.
We need hardly doubt that this gradual cure was meant to be an emblem of spiritual things. We may be sure that there was a deep meaning in every word and work of our Lord's earthly ministry, and here, as in other places, we shall find a useful lesson.
Let us see then in this gradual restoration to sight, a vivid illustration of the manner in which the Spirit fre- quently ivories in the conversion of souls. We are all naturally blind and ignorant in the matters which con- cern our souls. Conversion is an illumination, a change from darkness to light, from blindness to seeing the king- dom of God. Yet few converted people see things dis- tinctly at first. The nature and proportion of doctrines, practices, and ordinances of the Gospel are dimly seen by them, and imperfectly understood. They are like the man before us, who at first saw men as trees walking. Their vision is dazzled and unaccustomed to the new world into which they have been introduced. It is not till the work of the Spirit has become deeper and their experience been somewhat matured, that they see all things clearly, and give to each part of religion its proper place. This is the history of thousands of God's children. They begin with seeing men as trees walking — they end with seeing all clearly. Happy is he who has learned this lesson well, and is humble and distrustful of his own judgment.
Finally, let us see in the gradual cure of this blind