Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-10-07
TALMlGEEON MOMESiCKNEsS.
He Draws n Vivid Picture of the
Prodisals Return.


Prodisal Return.
On Sunday Mr.. Talmaqa's subject
was the good resolution of the Pfo1ioa
Son. and among other things he said
There is nothing like hunger TO bring g
man to his senses. The prodigal in the
, text was so hungry that he would fair
have eaten Of the husks which the swine
he was tending were given to eat
Hanger makes quick work. The most
awful cry ever heard on this earth j.
the cry for bread. The prodigal sail
to himself, "pil go home Why am I,
a rich mans son, doing the work Of the
commonest laborer2 I'll go home. >
Some people have attempted to throw
fascination abont sin. Bnt. IN spite
Of all that Byron, Sands and Others have
sad about it, it il mean. low, nuprofit.
able business. Satan tries to bribe u
to his following, and when one deserts
from his army he lets loose all the
hloodhounds of hell to try and bring
him back. Satan offers great emo'u-
ments to those who wi serve HIN.
Liar Down with thee to the pit
ITO WdktS Ok Ttl fS dChbii. no
gal Son learned what real emolument'
S ,'an had to give. Had he not been
put to the menial service that ha was
had he been engaged instead to record
the sales IN the pork market, or 10 look
after other laborers of some kind or
another-I don't believe he would have
gone home. The pro ligal who has a
comparatively easy time OF it. who has
still some money left or sees a wav TO
making it. does not go home. Why
should t. he asks himself. have
enough TO get along with. Why should
go and apologize to the oil man ?"
Man never wants the Gospel until
he realizes that he is in famine struck
state. II talk persistently about doc
tors and medicines TO man who knows
not what it is to be sick he will soon
tine of the sui sct. 1t is only the in
valid who wants indictments. A man
is sick with typhoid fever and he prays
God to save him, TO bring him through
his great trouble, and he will thereafter
lead a righteous, Christian life. He
gets better slowly. BY and by he is
ale to walk around the block, then to
go over to New York and attend to his
business. But where Is his broken vow
to God? Another man perhans has
said " IL live until the year 1892. AMI
by that time my affairs will be settled
up nicely, will devote my time TO re-
ligiou4 matters" Toe year 1882 is
three-fourths gone, sll that mans affairs
are as we'll arranged as they ever will
be, but where Is his broken vow? The
only resolution that is worth anything
ar all is the resolution which takes
effect Immediately. T. is no use to say
you will go home to G ID next year, or
to morrow, or at to-night's pray meet
ing. Does some one say "Ah, but
you don't know what | have done, what
sins / have committed, or you would
not tell me God wants me ?" What is
that flu teriDg among the angels What
is it? Joy IN heaven sinner has
been saved. Go home to your God TO
day. He is waiting for you. Go
home
| was down in Elsihampton last sum
mer aud | saw in the cemetery there the
graves of twelve sailors. These men
had been in a great gale and line had
been fired out to their vessel by the peo-
Pile on the shore. They got into a small
boat and pulled for their lives toward
the land. They were so near that their
voices could be heard, but the line broke
aud not one i'll the boat was saved. Their
bodies were washed up by the waves
How many there are who get almost TO
the shore of Gods mercv-almost, but
not q1ite-not quite To he almost
saved is to be wholly lost. Here are two
kinds of prodigals one gets home, the
other never does. Two boys left their
home in England ami went to Ports
mouth to take ship. Their father could
not follow them, and so wrote to the
Rv. Mr.. Grif1iu to intercept their in
tended voyage. He did so and easily
persuaded one to return to his father
He was homesick already. Are auy of
you aIre tdy homesick for God? The
other boy determined to go. and TO GO
as common sailor, because he thnught
that would worry his father most. Years
afterward he came back i'll irons, charged
with murder. He sent for Mr.. Griffin
and asked him to pray with him. By
mt ring efforts Mr.. Cliff procured a
pardon for the son of his old friend, and
at the very moment he gave him the
pardon the father gave him his pardon
and embraced him. That prodIgal got
home. Joy in heaven joy i'll heaven
Who wants full, free pardon? VINO
will accept a fathers embrace?