Following an open-air gospel address, a man in the crowd asked permission to say a few words. This being granted, he said: "Friends, I don't believe what this man has been talking about. I don't believe in a hell. I don't believe in a judgment. I don't believe in a God, for I have never seen one."
At the conclusion of this rebuttal, another man asked to speak. This is what he said: "Friends, you say that there is a river running not far away from this place. That is not true; there is no such thing.
"You tell me that there are trees and grass growing around me where I now stand. That is not true; there are no such things.
"You tell me that there are a great many people standing here. That is not true; there is no person standing here except myself.
"You wonder what I am talking about? The truth is I am blind; I was born blind. I have never seen one of you. And while I talk this way, it only shows that I am blind. If I could see I wouldn't say such things.
"And you," he said, addressing the infidel, "the more you talk, the more you expose your ignorance, because you are spiritually blind and cannot see."
Just as I am— poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find:
O Lamb of God, I come!