The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-10-31

BY REV. R. H. RIVERS. D. D.
THE pRoDIaAL SON.
A Sketch for Young Men in Two
Parts Part 1st, The Warning.
LESSON SO.

1t Is at once warning and an in
vitation. The career o. the prouti-
gal is painted as by the hand OF an
artist. The various consequences
OF a reckless life are presented with
all the vividness of truth. The
readiness of the father to forgive is
as natural as it is affecting. The
JOY that followed the reception of
the prodigal is wonderfully iilustra-
tive of the joy in heaven over re
pentant sinner.
In this discussion l hope to ex
hibit such points in the downward
career OF the prooigal as may deter
| the young from course of sin, and
SO TO present his restoration to the
home Of his father as to Induce the
wanderer to return to Hin who ten
DERBY offers forgiveness even to the
most prof1igate and fallen
l. The prodigal is represented
as restless son. He is impatient
of restraint. He can take care of
himself and is capable of managing
his own business. He admits no
longer the necessity OF parental
con troll. He, in effect, denies pa
rental authority. He can submit
to it no longer, he can, and he
must, DO as he plcases. without
humility, and more as a matter of
right than of favor. he asks for his
share of the estate. He demands
his portion of the goods. Such are
the first manifestations Of sin. The
young desire to be free. They ig
more authority. They are wiser
than their parents, and Hesd no
counsel. Advice is thrown away
upon such. They claim it as their
right to do as they please with their
own. They feel little or no respon-
sibility to either God or man.
2. Then comes the irrepressible
desire of present enjoyment. He
wants his portion of goods that he
may enjoy them. Passion clamors
for qualification Reason is silenced
and conscience is hushed. Imagin-
alton paints scenes of licentious
pleasure III which ne hopes TO feRel
with exquisite delight. He must
enjoy himself while young. he
must go on the fast line, He must
indulge every sense and crafty
every appetite. He must have his
goo,:s now and enjoy them. Such
are the natural feelings of youth
when uLrestrained by Christian
principle.
The warm blood courses through
young veins, the glowing passions
unsubdued by divine grace, the car
nal appetites unused to control, all
render this period of life peculiarly
dangerous. Passion is blind and
seeks for qualification without re-
gard to consequences. 1t is su
premely selfish, and ignores the
claims of God and mag. 1t is i'm
pudept, incaqtloqs and presump
tuous. II knows no God nut sell,
and it acknowledges no law but
present qualification. 1t says give
me the goods that fall TO mo.
3. He went into a far country.
He wished to go SO far that he
might escape both the vigilance and
rebukes of his father. He wanted
TO get ont of the sight and out of
the hearing So every young man
entering upon d downward career
leaves his home. It's associations
are no longer agreeable Its pure
atmosphere is not pleasant. The
quiet melody of a sisters voice, the
gentle words OF loving mother,
and the earnest prayers of yenera
bic father now fall upun his heart
with the force of terrible rebukes,
and he finds home a most unpIeas
ant place TO him. Then he tries to
get as far as possible from religious
influence. He ntIglects church. He
turns inidel. He laughs at religion.
He attends tue theater and the
opera. He visits dens of infamy.
He goes to all the haunts oil fash
ionable amusement. He enters gam
bling helis. He is found 1T the
shFine Of Bacchus In the elegant
drinking silicon, He gets behind
bars and bolts and hopes that God |
does not see him; or he has not
God in ali his thoughts. If he goes
to church at all it is to hear some |
sermon, or to listen to |
the discourse of sweet music. He |
has gone, like the prodigal in the !
text, into far country, away from
his fathers House ana native ONE. |
4. He wasted his substance in
riotous living. Sin always wastes
1t wastes time and energy, talents
and substance, brain and muscle,
God blessings and mans opportu
mites Sin is destructive. 1t pro-
duces nothing but misery and want
and ruin. 1t wastes life in crime
and folly, end it blasts all high
hopes anda destroys aii NOBLE re
solves. 1t paralyzes the conscience,
blunts the moral sensibihties, pol
Iutes the imagination. fires unholy 4
passions and wastes all the means
Of usefulness and happiness,
5. He began to be in want.
w aste always brings want. The
hunger and rags of the prodigal
will illustrate the hunger and wick
edness OF soul that has wandered
from God. This want OF the soul
nothing can satisfy but God Him
self. IT IS want which may not
press heavily upon tbs soul amid
he joyous scenes of life. 1t may
ca III. moment be lost sight of
mid the establishments of wealth ]
md power, but IL is sure to be felt
mi drepiy felt when pleasure has
ost its zest and power its charm. Z
When adversely comes. when sor- !
avs flow over the soul like success I
i've pillows; when losses consume $
be earnings OF years, when laurels I,
ade on the brow, when music loses i
: charm and humor and wit no P
lore provoke laughter, and the soul .
egins TO experience the iDexpress- Ct
Die paIgs OF want, # writhes in ag- d
ny. 1t is wrung with aRguiSb. Ii y
arms in vain 10 the world, for the b
ord has not stores enough TO sat
~ tile wants of the immortal soul. A.