New-York tribune., 1875-01-25
TIE ELDER son.


The Rst Mr4n Vi.sent D. d. Church or "a, Coenaai
tFFts6ptT1dH.
The publication i'll THE TRIBUNE Of the Rev.
Dr Marvin r. VIncenps sermon on The Younger Son
has brought requests for the printing Of its
eonpanion-piece The Elder SON." which preached
\ few weeks ago by DR.. Vincent the Church Of the
Covenant. The latter is therefore given below. Dr.
Vincent took the words OF the Apostle Luke
describing the OF the elder at the recep
on Of his prodiga brother. Following Is the sermon:
Taere are probably few Bible readers who have not
teraiueG Il have uttered he wish that the story
Of pTOdga might have ended with hs return 10
bis father hou'e. and have lei, hlm happily seated at
MS fathers taOIe suppose nat rev nse ieau t.ls
vendeTfu parable for The first mc WtDout feeling that
" arred y the added story OF the elder SONS be-
AcTtof Ih's lHc'' VIII t,r |l.iS vi t. ~
sver the INTERPRETATION OF tie parable, has led many
snrht never 10 IuCulge n ihs way reading Bible.
Not only tend weaken cur revelence Tor It's au-
ihorIy. but often lose oy such course most valu-
abe lesson and which Is necessary 10 the compete
understanding OF TIE portion which we read SO admir-
hs pictures which not iDols us"o-e 70 he genera
hecause we are at the wrong point Of view.
Thus TINS and pearl Of tie paranrs cannot ar
ford lose single feature we real III IT, hrst part of
human an ana folly. vet may also need 10 be re
minded tbat always clothed IN rags or found
praved as he VITO ted his sapstsnce the far conn
trv, NAV be found under tue guise OF respectable
aud duuful W. read low Divine cOmpia'
ceacy is called out hy Deniience IL may also
do us good - know how It Is not called out by
mechanical obedience. Let us have these Two
figures plainly befOre as tnev come excessively
To - r
foul with Ae reek Ci the vineyards Ls suDstnce
wasted gaunt and pale through his own wasJeiuI ioly
After MN comes tue elder soH, fresh IRON the 1old
where no has been serving the father; the
eminently respectable young man. who has never
asked for his portion or goods, Who has always
rensined al home l. rs is sharp cOntrast-yagaDOnd-
age respeciabiity, bad name and good aud reGu
And returned beggaT Las the lated CALI the robe
the the Ine, the music ani dancing 4he e4def
brother might home from the Il III hundred times
se he n dong picture. and the household would
not re stirred ike tnis AId no gTumuled at IT, AID
T. ruur KeT
pttS,T The nits Of Murray H and give the elder son
chance 10 ventiiae MS grievance, aud he would nave
DO iiculty at oil IN nuding rympatmz-fs. he, WHO
mao served and never trans crossed 1t fair that he
should never have kid 10 make merry Win hls
irieDdsi SuOuld all the fesuyV ne Iavlshed
on the vagahondi On tue face OF II,
tue elder son has rather plausible case. We
want 10 whether il, "a any more than plausible.
And preliminary 10 satisfactory answer VIII you
please keep prominently before you the Tact Wch ls
obvious Tie most careless reader that me Whole ac
ton OF the parable s cnunned 10 lDe FANNY cHce ana
that all It's turn upon the relation or father
euIar qualify from the fact OF IT. being sn against
Whatever pentence display IS called OUT oY
tvrgveness bestowed bears te stamp NOT OF Juoic
ceuency OF parental tenderness Aud III this char
the parable lies the test oy which we are 70
for our Judgment OF the character and behavior OF the
elder son. and the justice OF his complaint The com
npop one poini-ihe development OF true 1al spirit.
Which OF the two exhibited IT, And thus
trns Ts parable of human relations TO God.
For mans proper and normal relation to God s that OF
a "a
the first part parable very effectively AID beaut
fuly IN that Of the sons history ~
10 the spirit OF sonshp. YOU Will remember that
when be meditating return 10 ma homo he CONF
muned thus with himself: Il VIII arise anu 20 10 my
nDy more 20 he called SOD make me one OF thy
hired servsnts." ! will make myself worthy by ger
vice And be aud went TO his father coming
over tins by the way, ana forgot IL ia the nrst
rlasp OF his fathers arms. "FAther, have slnned
Father am unworthy" II meet that he should
remember that part But ne never couIu naVe sad
d hired servant" with the tears falling ike
rain from the aged face, and the elafp OF those
came back hun on the instant, and through II
he saw As in a fash that fatheriy love was not con
dtoned upon wOrthiness; that to his father he never
could a servant; that slch suggestion would De an
outrage uDon parental love- and that the parents deep
est wish could satisfied only by bis frank and iL ac-
OF the position or son Ia true spirit VI SUI
ann We nave therefore the Younger SON. the
returned prOdiga did accep tins position III TINS spirit
and because OF this leave nm seated at the table,
LAD in the hest robe the center OF household JOY and
festivy. Look the elder brother tried by TINS
tesf And nrst you will observe the peculiarly unflia,
IuspciOus spirit OF the An Older, trusted son. ever
HiLn MS father would think that nOIhing cOuld 90
an 10 the household from which ne cOud
Sould have said, I there Is any special JOY IN the
souse 1 must he concerned In II. Ii 10 something
Tor me 10 rejoice over, anc when ne hsaT1 I, tue tne
sonnds az revelry would have quickened ms step
,nd made his way the beart or tue 1estiVIS 70 hh
sut its cause ana intent Not so This honoreI ana
trusted son. What, revel going on in my Iatner
Sonss and not present /, ignorant OF the'ca1se
somethng N progress here which bAye hsd no hsbu
What does this fOrebOde 10 my STANDING ana eIkuIy
What seertt grudee Of 10y iasHoi n1d and csIls
servaDt and confers with bim Ths 10 always ths htll
snde Of the unhal spirit toward Goo IN Chrss Jesus
~ s o. shnnt fbs door from critics
sDy wayratbeF Dy going In and learning irVln n
Father himself II 10 with tine nouseno,a na,.o oI
bold How much value would you attach TO
kas fepert VI WaR's family LIE from one VINO haa