The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-12
SERVICES IN WASHINGTON.
TRINITY CHUR.H.

Admirable Discourse ON the Parable of the
Pr0digal SOn-Deceptive Pleasures Of Life
Tho Nervousness Of Sin-Spiritual Welfare
Of the self-Righteous.
WASHINGTON, Sept IL, 1870.
The congregation at Trinity Episcopal church
listened TO admirable discourse from the rector,
Rev. DR.. Addison, this morning, on the parable OF
the prodigal son. The reverend speaker said that
the prodigal son, after he left his fathers house.
was enchanted with the scenes which surrounded
him. Young, gay and thoughtless, deslrous only OF
consulting his own pleasure, the waywardness Of his
situation seemed to MIN infinitely preferable than
be under parental restraint OF his fathers house.
The impulses of his nature directed him IN tile way
or gayety. Sef-denial or self-control unknown
TO him. his was to be career Of pleasure. and
everything was TO be forgotten that connicted with
his idea oil happiness.
THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE
was hushed His fathers love was effaced from his
memory, and whatever enoyments his patrimony
could procure him he determined TO obtain.
His whole being seemed to be possessed with the
love of pleasure. The outlook OF the coming years
was TO HIM promise OF uninterrupted conentment.
There was not SO much as q shadow TO darken the
prospect, nor did he reckon upon the possibility OF
being checked by the hand OF God. But 1t was the
vision OF an insane mind, and in time God dispeed
the ideal his fancy had formed, ana in the words OF
Jesus Christ she came TO HIMSELF The swine be-
fore him feeding on the husks were fit emblems OF
his il-spent life. He had rioed in the luXures OF the
land. Fascinated by the aurements Of oarnal plea
sures he had expelled all that there was pure In his
nature, and the consciousness OF the situation IN
which his conduct had placed him made him
the keener realize his degradation lie felt that he
must forever remain a fallen man, and that his
humiliation was deservediy the result of the manner
In which he had wasted his fathers substance. All
around him seemed to smile with peace ana Joy.
and the contrast between his condition then and
earlier in life only made the comparison more pain.
iul. We understand the Application OF the parable,
and 1t is not necessary conne ourselves strictly
TO the words IN which IL is presented make that
apple alton personal.
DISSIPATION ASD FASHION
are not the only deceptive pleasures OF life. our
Lord Jesus employs this beautiful imagery 10 convey
to the minds OF all classes the condition OF those
who wander from his fatners love. The far coun-
try spoken OF Is not so distant the figure employed
would lead US 10 suppose. The morast, the strict
religOnst destitute OF The love OF God examples
of the condition OF the prOdgal son. Those who
sole themselves with the thought OF selfrigheousness
or live In seli-c0mplacency are in the far country
feeding on the husks OF the swine. The spiritual
welfare of such Ia perllous because OF the blind
of their hearts, and 10 all who are living in
tais manner he could say that they, too, were but
initiating the reckless career OF the prodlgal They
might esteem themselves 1iappy, but happiness
could alone he found In God. A fearful void re.
NAMED IN their hearts. No cry OF distress comes Ia
arouse them and the mind and heart filed with the
love OF the world leaves the admonitiOns of religion
UNDECIDED. Such people hive only on the surface o
THE GREAT BOSOM or ETERNITY,
and God alone can deepen their ASPIRATIONS for life
demands the satisfaction OF their carnal nature
which tends only TO the lusts OF the eye and tho
nesn. To those imbued with such spirit Of wha
magnitude Is the love OF Immortality The most
important part OF our wants are left unnoticed
there is desOlation within for 1t IL there behold
the cOmeness OF the kings daughter. Look back you
who have led lives barren OF the love OF God, and In
all sincerity answer. have you been happy Has not
the world been to you q wilderness or w0ef What
have You that II substantial to show for your cark
ing cares 2 You who have lived IN the whul VI