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."
"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." Psalm 14:1.
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!