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Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

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God for his misdemeanors. It was <strong>the</strong> custom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pharisees to hold<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves alo<strong>of</strong> from <strong>the</strong> sick and needy. They held that sickness and<br />

distress were always an evidence <strong>of</strong> God's anger toward <strong>the</strong> transgressor. Yet<br />

frequently <strong>the</strong>se very men, who exalted <strong>the</strong>mselves as holy and enjoying <strong>the</strong><br />

peculiar favor <strong>of</strong> God, were more corrupt in heart and life than <strong>the</strong> poor<br />

sufferers whom <strong>the</strong>y condemned.<br />

The palsied man had sunk into despair, seeing no help from any quarter,<br />

till news <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> miracles <strong>of</strong> mercy performed by Jesus had aroused hope<br />

again in his breast. Yet he feared that he might not be allowed in his<br />

presence; he felt that if Jesus would only see him and give him relief <strong>of</strong> mind<br />

by pardoning his sins, he would be content to live or die according to his<br />

righteous will. His friends assured him that Jesus had healed o<strong>the</strong>rs who<br />

were in every respect as sinful and helpless as himself, and this encouraged<br />

him to believe that his own petition would be granted.<br />

He felt that <strong>the</strong>re was no time to lose; already his wasted flesh was<br />

beginning to decay. If anything could be done to arrest mortality, it must be<br />

done at once. The despairing cry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dying man was, Oh that I might come<br />

into his presence! His friends were anxious to assist him in gratifying his<br />

wish, and several projects were suggested to bring about this result, but none<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m seemed feasible. The sick man, although racked with bodily pain,<br />

preserved <strong>the</strong> full strength <strong>of</strong> his intellect, and he now proposed that his<br />

friends should carry him on his bed to Jesus. This <strong>the</strong>y cheerfully undertook<br />

to do.<br />

As <strong>the</strong>y approached <strong>the</strong> dense crowd that had assembled in and about <strong>the</strong><br />

house where Jesus was teaching, it seemed doubtful that <strong>the</strong>y could<br />

accomplish <strong>the</strong>ir purpose. However, <strong>the</strong>y pressed on with <strong>the</strong>ir burden, till<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir passage was completely blocked up and <strong>the</strong>y were obliged to stop<br />

before <strong>the</strong>y arrived within hearing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Saviour's voice. Jesus was within,<br />

and, as was customary, his disciples sat near him; for it was most important<br />

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