Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-24
&eadiua fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
fOrlglnal.l
THE PRODIGAL SON.

corded Ia the fifteenth chapter OF the gospel
by Luke, from the eleventh verse to the close
of the chapter, is commonly called "The Par
able of the Prodigal Son." Like the history
of Joseph, it is intensely interesting That
mans taste is not to be envied, who is not
fascinated with it as literary composition.
Whoever will run his eyes over it, will see
that it is divided into two parts. The first
describes, in living size. the ways of the sin.
ner toward God, and the way of God toward
the sinner The second portrays the thoughts
and feelings of the selfrighteous toward the
penitent sinner, and toward God as a God of
Mercy. The FIRST part begins with the elev.
enth verse and ends with the twenty-fourth.
The second embraces the remaining part of
the chapter.
Some are of the opinion that the prodigal
son represents the Gentiles, and the son that
remains at home with his father, represents
the Jews. Such theory is wholly indefens,
ble. No reference is made in the parable to
either Jews or Gentiles as such; but simply
to sinners of Adams race and selfrighteous
persons, no matter whether they be Jews or
Genties. The first thing set forth in the
parable is the universal tendency in the hu-
man heart to- forsake God. All men, in
their natural state, feel that God is hard
master. That he reaps where he has not
sown, and gathers where he has not strewn.
While they feel that they are under no obi
cations to God, they strangely think God is
under very great obligation to them.
No doubt our Saviour, in this parable,
selected the "younger son" as the prodigal,
to illustrate more forcbly the waywardness
of the human heart By the laws of the
country, the first horn was heir to the estate
of the father, and the younger son was only
allowed portion. This young son was i'm
patient. He demanded that the father give
him his portion and let him 60.
The sentiments of the human heart are
brought prominently to view by the words,
"give me the portion Of goods that falleth to
me.". He, by these wicked words, disclosed
the wicked thoughts of his proud heart We
may we'll suppose that he thus thought within
himself: "Why should 1 remain here any
longer? Father is a strange old creature.
He is an old fogy, many years behind the
age. If 1 only had my part of this property,
| could make more out of it than father does
out of the whole of it" In some such Ian.
guage as this, every human heart reasons
with ITSELF "God is poor manager" is the
language of all our uuregenerated hearts,
We all think we can do better for ourselves
than God has ever done for US, if God would
only give US start and then let us alone
In the parable, we are told that the father
granted the request of his son. The son de-
served nothing, and was capable of managing
nothing, and the father knew it; but still he
gave him portion of his goods. Does not
God so deal with every sinner? He opens
his hand and bestows upon US all many and
great blessings. The most rebellious often
enjoy good health, and are supplied with an
abundance of the good things of this world
God grants them their desires. He gives
them the portion of goods which they in their
wickedness demand.
The first thing that this younger son, in the
parable, did after receiving the portion of
goods which he claimed, was to take his jour
ney into far country. As the irrational
brute, which has long been confined, is crazy
with Joy when released. 80 this young man
felt when he left his fathers house. 81 am
free," he thought to himself Everything as.
sumed joyful aspect. The grass was green
er than ever it was before, and all nature was
fresh and full of life 81 can now do as |
please" he thought and this thought he de-
termined to reduce to practice.
Poor silly fellow! He began wrong for
his long continued good. He spent freely
what his father gave him, and made, or &C.
cumulated nothing. He began aud pursued
course of "rotous living" He made moth
ing, saved nothing, and wasted everything.
1t was not long until the poor, silly fool,
found himself in most deplorable condition.
His race was short one. In marvelously
short period, he found himself poor-without
penny-all his father had given him spent,
wasted. He found himself in "far country"
away from the restraints of his fathers house
but unfortunately there was most distress.
ing famine in the land. No one cared any
thing for him. His former position only
served to aggravate his present. Starvation
began to stare him in the face, and he made
desperate effort to relieve himself. He
Joined himself to citizen Of that country.
This citizen put this prodigal son to work,
and the first task assigned him was to feed
swine Think of young Jew being sent into
the fields to feed swine. By nothing could
he have been more disgraced.
In this part Of the history of the "prodigal
son." we have graphic description of every
sinner. His race is short and bitterness
in the end. No man can estimate the real
amount of misery that every sinner reaps.
He is in "far country" in which mighty
famine is certain to arise.
While in the field, watching the swine, the
prodigal came to himself. He began to con.
trast his miserable condition with what it
might be if he were under his fathers roof
So great and pressing were his necessities that
he fain would have eaten the husks, or carob.
mast upon which the swine fed. He had, as
matter of last resort, engaged in the dis
graceful business of feeding swine, but it
~. ;, ,oroll,, Tho