The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-28

IKE PROD1oAL soN-sERMoS BY THE REV.
NF2T

TIE PRoDIoAL soN-sERMoS BY TRE REV.
DR. A B. VAN Met.
me south Reformed church, corner OF Twenty
nrst street. ana Filth avenue, had = FAIR share Of
uorsnIppers yesterday morning. me regular pas
tor being absent on an important mission to Lon
don the pulpit was occupied BY the Rev. DR.. A. X
van Nest LATE or Florence. Italy. This gentleman,
alter informing the members or the congregation
that the church would De closed Ia two weeks. 70
be reopened 10 September, announced as The sub
tect Of mis- discourse the theme OF The PTodiga
SOM he cnose Tor his text ST. Luxe Nv, Lille
and he sald. A certain man had two sons; and
tre younger or them said TO bis father, Father.
give me rnc porron Of goods that falleth 70 me.
And be divided unto them mis- liviug,v &C. Tnis
account D. the prodgal, considered as beautiful
story Ia lie, be began, !. very interesting. In the
elder son q Grown me narrow spirit OF the Jew,
ana IN she younger son Jesus represents any sin.
nsr wno Eauders from Goa. The elder son, who
prides himself upon bis excellent conduct and
gOod works, tninks no one Will be saved but those
who follow ms rules In Short, the whole story
was q sharp rebuke upon the Pharlsee. The
proigai mas q klna father out ne feels TINS an
oppression. lie claims as right portion OF his
fathers property. lie does not Ike his father's
ADVICE nor hs Affection, and tanks himself quail
ied 10 manage MS own anairA In This We
not only q distaste for his fathers inJunctiona
but . deare 30 De Independent " God. IL was
Atner give snare OF Ms estate 70 each son
and Two Boares 10 Sue oldest Ia this We also
recognize mis- wieh 70 be released from zoe
authority Of Coz ana rhe guidance OF he
whole family. 1hls being the desire Of the son, the
fAtuer was forced 70 yield. How could he disre-
garc Toe 70 ner whO wouia DO 50 much for him out
VI pure arecuon This ~ exactly toe way the
Heavenly Father treats me sinner. The sinner
APPLE oF DrscoED
alone IN ais woe. Cod allows tAe sinner 20 rob
Him Of q good deal Does tRls not prove That % .
heart must be hald ana stoneuke not TO I've
touched 81 the tender heavenly mercyy But 70
returR 70 the prOdical. HIS natural selnshness
kept MIN q while ron returning home ana ac-
knoWledElng Ma base ingrautude. While mas
property lasted ne may nave thought that be dlS
ufselg, but when ne had spent AL, Calamity IN toe
shape OF anime, fell upon MIN. bow different thh
world looKed 70 Blm when mH money Was all
EUnel Merchants feel famine when they nave
specuated and loss everything. The heart
Knows famine that 8 hard 70 feed |;
earthly can satisfy. There - want that
man feels and soiacs he feels that the highest
luxury cannOb snord nor the greasest praise be-
stow. The prCdigaiz pride, that was ~ hrst too
strong 70 make aim take the backward, or rather
homeward. step, Was ODuged AZ last 70 succumD
IOu can see now deeply oeDzsed he secame when
DC accepted tue position o. swtDehefd. hut hOw
omen. wnen a man wants 20 come 70 Cod, SO
closely Is ne llnked 70 carta ana ITS pleasures
does he break TIE slender connection win Coo
AMI iOin himself entirely 70 tue world Thcn
what Il MS degradation aad hoa long Il before
MINISTER TO I'M EvIL oSEf
Tae prodigA wLo turns IRON heaven 70 take the
wOria must repent N tears ana ashes before he
can REGAIN MS old position, and ne VINO Uses MS
substance in rICtOus living must CONS 20 want
pe wno would turn from q tender, aTectIOnate
Iather woul0 turn fr0m the path Of tue Lord.
seek zee Fatuer-zceE nome AMI sou whi WanE
nothing else r. this DARK, weary void