wish to live according to the remonstrances of the multitude who would hinder thee, and
not after the steps of the Lord, “who passeth by”? They will mock, and abuse, and call thee
back; do thou cry out till thou reach the ears of Jesus. For they who shall persevere in doing
such things as Christ hath enjoined, and regard not the multitudes that hinder them, nor
think much of their appearing to follow Christ, that is of their being called Christians; but
who love the light which Christ is about to restore to them, more than they fear the uproar
of those who are hindering them; they shall on no account be separated from Him, and Jesus
will “stand still,” and make them whole.
14. For how are our eyes made whole? That as by faith we perceive Christ “passing by”
in the temporal economy,2911 so we may attain to the knowledge of Him as “standing still”
in His unchangeable Eternity. For then is the eye made whole when the knowledge of Christ’s
Divinity is attained. Let your love apprehend this; attend ye to the great mystery2912 which
I am to speak of. All the things which were done by our Lord Jesus Christ in time, graft faith
in us. We believe on the Son of God, not on the Word only, “by which all things were made;”
but on this very Word, “made flesh that He might dwell among us,” who was born of the
Virgin Mary, and the rest which the Faith contains, and which are represented to us that
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Christ might “pass by,” and that the blind, hearing His footsteps as He “passeth by,” might
by their works “cry out,” by their life exemplifying the profession of their faith. But now in
order that they who cry out may be made whole, “Jesus standeth still.” For he saw Jesus now
“standing still” who says, “Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth
know we Him no more.”2913 For he saw Christ’s Divinity as far as in this life is possible.
There is then in Christ the Divinity and the Humanity. The Divinity “standeth still,” the
Humanity “passeth by.” What means, The Divinity “standeth still”? It changeth not, is not
shaken, doth not depart away. For He did not so come to us, as to depart from the Father;
nor did He so ascend as to change His place. When He assumed Flesh, it changed place; but
God assuming Flesh, seeing He is not in place, doth not change His place. Let us then be
touched by Christ “standing still,” and so our eyes be made whole. But whose eyes? The eyes
of those who “cry out” when He is “passing by;” that is, who do good works through that
faith, which hath been dispensed in time, to instruct us in our infancy.
15. Now what thing more precious can we have than the eye made whole? They rejoice
who see this created light which shines from heaven, or even that which is given out from
a lamp. And how wretched do they seem, who cannot see this light? But wherefore do I
speak, and talk of all these things, but to exhort you all to “cry out,” when Jesus “passeth
by.” I hold up this light which perhaps ye do not see as an object of love to you, Holy Brethren.
2911 Dispensatione.
2912 Sacramentum.
2913 2 Cor. v. 16.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xx. 30, about the two blind men sitting…