Part 234

One would have thought that such a moving petition as this would have melted the whole multitude, that heard his piteous cry, into compassion, and induced some at least to turn suitors in his behalf, or help to carry him to the blessed JESUS. But instead of that, we are told, verse 48, that “many charged him.” The word in the original seems to imply a charge, attended with threatning, and spoken in an angry manner. They charged him “to hold his peace;” and it may be, threatned to beat him if he did not. They looked upon him beneath the notice of JESUS of _Nazareth_, and were ready enough to ask, whether he thought JESUS CHRIST had nothing else to do but to wait upon him. This was, no doubt, very discouraging to blind _Bartimeus_. For opposition comes closest when it proceeds from those who are esteemed followers of the Lamb. The spouse complains as of something peculiarly afflicting, that her own mother’s children were angry with her. But opposition only serves to whet the edge of true devotion, and therefore _Bartimeus_, instead of being silenced by their charges and threatnings, “cried out the more a great deal, thou Son of _David_, have mercy on me.” Still he breaks out into the same humble language, and, if JESUS, the Son of _David_, will have mercy on him, he cares not much what some of his peevish followers said of, or did unto him. This was not a vain repetition, but a devout reiteration of his request. We may sometimes repeat the same words, and yet not be guilty of that Βαττολογια, or vain speaking, which our LORD condemns. For our LORD himself prayed in his agony, and said twice the same words; “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Thus _Bartimeus_, “JESUS, thou Son of _David_, have mercy upon me.” And how does the Son of _David_ treat him? does he join issue with the multitude, and charge him to hold his peace? or does he go on, thinking him beneath his notice? no; for, says St. _Mark_, verse 49. “And JESUS stood still,” though he was on a journey, and it may be in haste (for it is not losing time to stop now and then on a journey to do a good office by the way) “and commanded him to be called:” why so? to teach us to be condescending and kind even to poor, if real beggars, and tacitly to reprove the blind, misguided zeal of those who had charged him to hold his peace. By this also our LORD prepares the multitude the better to take the more notice of the blind man’s faith, and of his own mercy and power exerted in the healing of him. For there are times and seasons when we are called to perform acts of charity in the most public manner, and that too very consistently with the injunction of our Saviour, “not to let our right hand know what our left hand doth.” For there is a great deal of difference between giving alms, and exercising acts of charity, that are seen of men, and doing them, that they may be seen; the one is always sinful, the other often becomes our duty. JESUS commanded _Bartimeus_ to be called, “and they called him.” Who called him? it may be, those who a little before charged him to hold his peace. For it often happens, that our opposers and discouragers, afterwards become our friends. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes his enemies be at peace with him.” And it is to be wished, that all who have charged poor souls, that are crying after JESUS, to hold their peace, and to spare themselves, and not be righteous over-much, would imitate the people here, and encourage those they once persecuted and maligned. “They call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee.” The words, and manner of speaking them, implies haste, and a kind of solicitude for the blind man’s relief. O! that we might hereby learn to be patient, and long-suffering, towards opposers. For it may be, that many may oppose awakened souls, not out of enmity, but through prejudice and misinformation, through ignorance and unbelief, and a real, though perhaps false, persuasion, that their relations are going in a wrong way. By and by they may be convinced, that CHRIST is indeed calling them, and then they may become real and open friends to the cause and work of GOD; if not, it is our duty to behave with meekness towards all, and not to render railing for railing, but contrarywise blessing, knowing that we are thereunto called, that we may inherit a blessing; JESUS did not break out into harsh language against these opposers, neither did _Bartimeus_. “Our LORD stood still, and commanded him to be called; and they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee; and he, casting away his garment, rose and came to JESUS.” Had _Bartimeus_ not been in earnest when he cried, “JESUS, thou Son of _David_, have mercy upon me,” he might have said, why do you mock me? why bid ye me arise; rise indeed I can, but after I am risen, how can I, being blind, find my way unto him? If he will come to me, it is well; if not, all your calling availeth nothing, it being impossible for me to find my way. Thus thousands now-a-days object to evangelical preachers, saying, Why do you bid us come to, and believe on JESUS CHRIST, when you tell us it is impossible of ourselves to turn to GOD, or to do good works; and that no one can come unto him, unless the Father draw him. Is not this like the people’s calling upon _Bartimeus_, to arise and come to JESUS, when he could not possibly see his way before him? true, it is so; and would to GOD that all who make this objection, would imitate _Bartimeus_, and put forth the strength they have! What if we do call you to come, and to believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that you may be saved? does this imply, that you have a power in yourselves to do so? no, in no wise, no more than JESUS saying unto _Lazarus_’s dead and stinking carcase, “Come forth,” implied, that _Lazarus_ had a power to raise himself from the grave. We call to you, being commanded to preach the gospel to every creature, hoping and praying, that CHRIST’s power may accompany the word, and make it effectual to the quickening and raising of your dead souls. We also call to you to believe, upon the same account as JESUS said unto the lawyer, “do this, and thou shalt live;” that you seeing your utter inability to come, might thereby be convinced of your unbelief, and be led to ask for faith of him, whose gift it is, and who is therefore in scripture emphatically stiled the _Author_, as well as _Finisher_, of our faith. Add to this, that it is your duty to wait at the pool, or to make use of the strength you have, in the earnest and steady performance of all commanded duty. For though you cannot do what is spiritually good, because you want spiritual principles of action, yet ye may do what is morally and materially good, inasmuch as ye are reasonable creatures; and though doing your duty as you can, no ways deserves mercy, or entitles you to it, yet it is the way in which you are required to walk, and the way in which GOD is usually found. While you are attempting to stretch out your withered arm, peradventure it may be restored; and who knows but JESUS may work faith in you, by his almighty power?