The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

BLIND BARTIMiEUS 365
open the floodgates of His power. This man had
learned the secret of success, whether in things
heavenly or things earthly. He cried for the one
thing he wanted until he got it.
" What wilt thou
that I shall do unto thee"
It is will power that wins. It wins most of the
prizes of this life, and it wins the crown of eternal
life. There is hardly any door which will not open
to persistent knocking ;
and the steepest road can be
surmounted by determined feet. We do not gain
what we wish for, but we do, for the most part, gain
what we will. The two things are no more alike
than the fleecy snowflakes are like the white limestone
rocks on which they fall.
Wishing never brings
a man anything except the pictures of a dream,
which speedily vanish ;
and
it is well for him that it
does not. If we could get by wishing, there would
be some strange transformation scenes. Every
preacher would be a Spurgeon or Wesley ; every
member of the choir would be a Patti or Jenny
Lind ; every little child would be a man ; every
Christian would have his name in the roll of saints
every bicycle rider would win the champion cup,
and
probably break his neck in keeping it ; every person
in a congregation would be as rich as a Vanderbilt,
and as uneasy ; and we should all go fooling and
destroying ourselves together. Happily for us all
these idle wishes come to nought.
There are people who are always wishing, but they
and they might as well try to
make no effort of will ;
dance upon the point of a needle, or reach the
seventh heaven on a pair of stilts. They wish for
all manner of good things—sweet tempers, gracious