The Gospel Kindles Noble Principles Within the Heart of the Poor
Matthew 11:5
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up…


Let me here state a simple fact relative to Sunday School instruction by way of illustration. The earliest Sunday School which was instituted, as far as I have been able to collect, was in a valley in Gloucestershire, by a manufacturer, who, though not a man of piety himself, was moved by the state of ignorance of the little ones released on the day of rest from their labours in the factory, and from all restraint; he built a school, and employed a holy old man to bring them into this fold, where they were fostered in simplicity and security. Years rolled on, and that rich manufacturer was reduced by vicissitudes in trade to great distress; and as he was walking in the streets in the midst of his poverty, he was accosted by a man in the garb of soldier, who said, "How glad am I to see you." The manufacturer replied, "I know you not." The man rejoined, "Ah! but I know you, sir; it was in your school that I was taught to read the Word of God, which has been my comfort in all my wanderings." "It cheers me," said the man of sorrows, "changed as you see me; I was then rich, but am now poor." "Say you so?" exclaimed the soldier, "I have just received a pension; you cannot work for your broad, but I can work for mine, and that pension shall be yours." He pressed upon him his little all, for which he had toiled and bled in his country's defence. "Never," said the afflicted man, when relating this incident, "did I before comprehend the meaning of that promise, 'Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall be found after many days.'" Oh, what a sublime description — or rather, what a sublime action! It is worth ten thousand sentiments. There was the magnificent character and majesty of soul, which nothing but Christian principle can give, and compared with which, all the deeds of ordinary philanthropy are but the glow-worm's light to the splendour of the mid-day. That poor man had no learning but what he derived from the gospel; but see how it elevated his soul.

(H. Stowell, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

WEB: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.




The Gospel for the Poor
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