New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-11
PULPIT TEACHIN GS.
THE YOUNGER son.
ITIL 1VI NUEh NVN.
TIE Rev Marin VaoeH n, church Of TIE Corradnt Prs,b


IL TO "a, the story OF the prodga son.
Human lie have wonderful and solemn interest
FOR tenants OF heavenly world Christ is to be
believed His words in this chapter, which LIT the vail
for a moment, give us a. glimpse OF wondrous fesuVlty
Heaven IL in tumult OF joy. Angels are exchanging
words OF cougrauation. Surely must be some grand,
triumphant crisis Gods universe which thus agtates
the home Of the blessed. It is not this Follow the dl-
rectou Of the angelic glances and see them resting
upon single OF earth-a with the lines Of sim
full passOu his face, standing amid the wrecks OF
honor PROMISE native power yet with his face up-
lifted 20 God. saying have sinned; forgive me-" IL
is this, nothing but this that makes heaven ring Win
praise pusae with JOY. There Is joy in the pres
ence Of the angels Of God sinner that re-
penteth."
In the discourse upon the other portion OF this parable
remarked both its turned Oh the fact OF the
hlial relation between God and man. must
beg you TO note this thought specially me
fact to which God attaches the most importance
that shall he truly HIS All mans moral We
fare is bound up this fact. All hs moral mistakes
and failures grow out OF his forgetting IT, and his moral
ruin. II be be ruined results fro MS relecuhg IL ~
because Of this that Heaven reoces recreant
who returns fal duty. And such JOY suggests very
fearful contrast rescue IN when heaven AK sui
intense interest must be a ruscue from no ordinary eN
ana danger Gods own Joy over restored son gives
awful hint OF what It is to be astray from Cod -,
We not however, left to this hint 70 FORM an est
OF tine evils OF such an esrangement In DOh tue
preceding parabes-the lost sheep aud the lost coin
the fact Of absence from Cod Is Illustrated Dut nor W
character aud extent OF the loss which absence ehtAs,
That Is brought out IN the present parable Ihe secrets
OF the far country are lad bare We see noM !. la
with the Orsakes his father anu a. we ioiIoW
the course OF this narrative, the spirit rust VIII
engender in higher estimate OF our
| privilege In beng sons Of God, wholesome ear
fOrfeug that privilege ana clearer appreciation OF
the grounds OF heavens JOY over one Sinner 'HA' 40
| penteth. ,.
Here then is the starting point in this sad story
OF a}Ouh turning us DacK on nout iuu VI a.,
love- unhia spir1-the spirit which separates man
from his Goa. IL displayed u) IN his false notion OF
liberty. L he had bat known It, most truly iree
while living obedience to his father but liberty with
him. meant license, absence OF Restraint aud tHeIele
CisoOedlence constantly Directing 10 GOd-
that 1t restraints Their liberty not rejecting hat
license bondage. The perfect harmony aud lree move
men OF the physical uniyerse are secured not 0ny Nv
The impulse winch throws the various worlds OF from
the center but also by the attraction when AO5 JeH
10 the ceuter, ana keeps each IN It's appointed oroi,
suspend law IN human society, ana et every man uV
that which night IN his own eyes ana the most a"lu
scenes OF tyranny which history Gepcts "ou',
/ be reproduced with tenlod horrors. - that Coz
/ Is applying uufamIiir ARBITRARY principle
in subiectmg man TO law. His truth, indeed naAes
free. but the liberty which II confers obeys N'
the blessed N his deed VINO counucth pa t"
prrect law Of liberty. And ia the family circle TINS
truth most clearly apparent, Tor who Is more ,Iy
his fathers heart and IN sympathy with MS father
. He displayed this uuAia spirit In his conception OF
happiness. No place should have been as pleasant 10
HIM home society SD grateful as that or a Wise
ana loving parent; contrary. happiness lies f0
HIM in FAR country, and IN the society Of haTots ana
g. He displayed this unHal spirit in lbs concet La
tie doubt had ne when he asked for us portion Oh -oH
tat more good was 70 be gotten OUT Oh u Nv ~
his own hands than hy leaving lt III MS IalHe s. %
WOui be administrator, using MS poS.tH1uu'
for ms own ends Without ADVICE Ordcdloh run d OIV
Il il not uncommon couc-lt among men IhcoretIal
IT, few Of them perhaps, would be Wiling 10 admit bAt
they would not De the better for DIVINE Gulianct out
practically how many men do we see whose powers arc
held subject Gods dIctatloni How many who do not
say, by heir dAlly pursuits by the use Oh urlt "ea
by the direction OF their talents, that they deem len
selves competent TO their own guidance; that they mold
their powers their own that they expect their pos
them larger interest OF happiness ana
prosperity IN their own hands than in Gods Chder the
impulse Of a spirit then, tho Young man turned ms
back upon father and home. IL might seem as though
the memories OF the love winch had IooWea nun rom
/ his iufancy-.hc mauy suggestions OF iathery Gaze
which met him az every sJep-wOud have touched NM
and al least have delayed MS departure Dut he VIZ ~
W. yas raid any iuaence when might cfain him
impatient D. any remonstrance with ns folly. He
bnnded by that monstrOus cheat that there some
/ home could giyc him That monstrOus cheat. say,
/ which many men nave 70 thank for being In moral
beggary to-day. How often nave thongt OF TINS IN
looking al haf picture so flmliIrto yuua-the second
in series OF The Voyage Of Lte' You emer the
eager attitude OF the youth as ur Rrsp- lue Hu VI e
CAV boat which nc the ONLY passenger HIS eye -
bent upon that gorgeous mirage OF palace III me as
beautiful and peaceful Tue pastures aud the trees
/ How winning tie aspect OF the guardian splt VINO
stands With gesture 81" warning Cose DrI 80, ~, p'.e
ing boat. Alas the bOy's back alike toward the peace
fu PASTURES and MS better angel He has no thought
nut Tor thdt castle III we c'ollH' 'ole'nlus .o''
God-bctter than sOnship-Oetter tuiu OOedience-D
ter than athery wisdom aud oVc-that is te deIu9'oh
which starts 80 many prO0lSds upon .HeII 80
! OF sorrow. C0ult he not have heen detained
! tempted, I should have tue story thrown
! III my face to-day IN support ~ the claim JOE
! might force a save TO remain IN Ills house lie might
hold Inn duty by bonds or stripes hut iather can
household at AL tan 10 nave nun there as any hhs Du'
! II ne would 20 away he must Ana lus Is III.
| way in which God often deals with obstinate men a
great deal OF GOds teaching u by experience; IHere
are some things which men cannot learn 50 well IN any
! other way. There certain deusOns so firmly Dult
up-such perfect sembances OF strength ana security,
that men Will he convinced That they are dedsOns, Ouy
by having chem tumble their heads and wound them
in the ruin so perhaps the prodlgaI can ind out the
charm and the hospitality Of the far country only Dy
fupp Tray
win bitter udIngs: they do not break the charm 30
God sometimes lets man take the rein. He leaves
own choices. follow out his own devices; to
be blown ana tossed Ike leaf by tue
and II self prove tyrant instead Of an obedent ser
want road OF self VIII 30 bruise us ee ts
we'll Al any rate God Will force no man 10 serve MN
Remember hls We VINO cry out against lnirinSenenI Oh
your liberty. cod leaves you tree. You can 90 away
from II you Will; You can STAY away rom 1ln
you Will you can be- an outeast II you Will nc WIZ
his house only you shall enter his door OF your own
! free Will.
ingy. That Is the literal meaning OF Tue WORKS. wasted
his substance riotous living He lived unsayngly-
meaning OF that word economy. Wo cOnfne It's mean
lug saving boarding up; whereas an economy is
the rule of living; tine whole range OF principles Dy
which regulates his life; ana, II be AVes by no
of he lives unsaylngy not only AS respects
money. but power. ana Tune ana everything An econ
| Omy was Just what this prodigal nd not want
Every true economy involves direction and restraint
Restraint he impatient Of, ana cast Oh DlrecuOn
he his hands He began not only without
a rule OF hfe but by hating rule ana running away from
H. Regarded merely ure-seeker he was fool
dd get out OF his property half the amount OF
mere qualification which he would have done ny
observing economy mis- pleasures There have been
| deDauchees VINO have made Themselves historical by
tbeIr prudence in the midst OF their pleasures There
| have been men who have known how 20 economic APP
petite 80 AZ hlghten and prOlOng ts qualification III
tney had not a true economy OF lie they had an econ
/ omy: but our prodga spurned even this. He was law
less III his pleasures aud ran TO waste OF course
may imagine how friends gathered round him, and
| v,