Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-05
THE PRODIGAL SON.

Central Truth God loves a repent
ing sinner as a father loves and wei.
comes a returning son.
This, which is perhaps the most beau.
tiful and winsome OF all our Saviour $
parables, follows close upon the two
considered last week. 1t is a part of
the same discourse, and has for its main
purpose the same lesson of Gods ten.
der regard for sinners and eagerness to
save them. In more than one point it
rounds out the teaching of the others.
As respects the sinners character, we
see in the wandering sheep and lost
coin its side of stupidity and selfignor
ance; while here we have its other side
of wilful departure from God. As to
his recovery, in the other parallels we
see only Gods side of interposing grace,
diligently and patiently going after the
wanderer and searching for the lost, as
il no movement or act whatever were
required OF the latter whereas in this
we have very distinctly brought TO view
the sinners own exercise OF free and
active choice. Yet. again, in the Others
the divine motive appears as compassion
for creature in peril and desire TO save
that which has value, where here we
have the far more affecting picture Of n
loving father ioyfully receiving a long
lost SON as one alive from the dead.
Thus each of the three is the compile.
ment of the Others. Neither, standing
alone. conveys the whole of the glori
Gus and cheering truth in the Saviour's
mind. There is also a climax, since in
this last we have ut once more vivid
picture of what it is on the one side to
be lost, and on the other to be recovered
and saved.
Primarily the two sons represent the
two classes named in the opening verses
of the chapter: the elder, the complain
ing Pharisees and Scribes, who, though
far from true righteousness, were still
nominally with the Father; the young.
er, the Publicaus and Sinners, who knew
and confessed themselves as unrighteous.
In general. however, the latter may re.
present any and every sinner who, be.
ing consciously lost, Is again found.
In the prodigal's course four things
stand out from all the rest,-his sin, its
consequences, his conversion, and his
welcome home. 1t will be profitable
for teacher and scholar to linger upon
each OF these, and note their principal
features.
The sin began where all sin begins,
in the cherished feelings of the heart.
The youth was not content to trust his
fathers wisdom and love; he was impa
tient of restraint he would be his own
master and please himself. Naturally
enough, he soon found his fathers pres.
ence irksome, and went in quest OF lib.
erty in selt.indulgence. So every sinner
goes into forgetfulness Of God-the "far
country" OF prayerless, disobedient,
selfish, If not sensual, life.
The prodigal ere long found himself
in straits. With the sinner it is not
always so. Many are seemingly pros
porous aad smiling TO the end. Never,
however, are they truly happy. Sooner
or later the sense Of want, degradation
and bondage comes to all. Never, even
in this world, is the alien blest.
1t should be remembered that the
Saviour is depicting the case of IL sinner
who actually returns to God. Not all
do this. There are those whom misery
hardens. These become "citzens' oI
the far country. The prodigal repre-
sents those who, in time of trouble. are
made to see their guilt, and moved Ia
forsake their sins and seek for mercy.
Repentance and faith mark every step
OF his return.
The beauty and pathos of the parable
appear in the scene in which the father,
seeing the son n great way off, goes forth
to meet him, and with every demosntra
tion OF full and free forgiveness takes
him 10 his heart and home. II is won
derful representation Of the full saliva
ton in store for the greatest sinners
willing to forsake evil and accept divine
pardon.
IL Is quite true that nothing is here
said Of the ground Of acceptance in the
great expiation. This was not needlul
II indeed IL were possible TO convey g
truth, having no place in merely human
relations, in paFabolic form. Not all
truth. nor every side OF any truth, i,
taught on every page. But elsewhere
and in due time, II was very plainly
made known that the ground OF par
don and divine welcome are ever the
same-namely, the one sacrifice upon
the cross.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
I. To the lost and the. wandering
God is still generous Father much a,
he Is displeased with sin. he not only
pities and values, but loves and long,
for the sinner.
2. Selfseeking. the desire 10 use anC
enjoy Gods gift without the restraint
of obedience, is the root and essence o
all sin. IL is against this that we hav'
most need to watch and pray. S0one
or later II Ia sure TO take US into the IA
country Of open and hagrant sin. Oft
en-, too, the downward course is rapid.
3. The results of sin in this life ar,
often bitter and oppressive; God's wil
and way are the beat for us here ant
now.
4. Not oil who wander from God re
turn to him. Some remain, unrepent
ing and unforgiven. Nevertheless ther
is not one whose sins and distance ar
20 great that God il not eager to receiv
and save him. Whosoever will, let hin
comet
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