The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-18
.THE PRODIGAL SON.
Mr.. Reads Third Sermon ON the Sub.
jeet in the Baptist Church Last
Eyening..."His Fall"

lowing is synopsis of the interesting
disc curse:
1t is said that the Emperor Domitian,
he who put to death John the Apostle, as
tradition has it, made at one time feast
for some of his men high in authority.
They had to pass through narrow pas
sage to enter what they supposed was the
banqueting hall, but Instead OF this he
had stationed along this passage way men
armed. who slew the unsuspecting vics
tins; and thus another chapter was added
to the long list of the cruelty of this
wicked emperor In like manner satan
tempts men into that way which seems to
them filed with joys and delights, but
which proves their ruin in the end. 1t
was thus with the Prodlgal. He thought
he saw before him life gilded with
pleasure "a future, along the pathway of
which would be strewn roses of delights
full sweetness. His fall is theme worthy
of our most candid consideration tonight
First. His fall involved his all 1t is
thus in the case of all who fall into sin.
1t is yielding up everything a. 1t
meant to him yielding up that which his
father had given him of material wealth.
He put himself in such an attitude before
men as to draw to him class who would
not be an honor to any one, and therefore
would draw upon his resources in every
time Of emergency. The same is true of
the fall today in the ease of every young
man. The fall involves the wealth of the
world either in proving snare by its &C
emulation or else runous by its loss.
l(2) The fall involved his character He
lost character by his voluntary W ith-
drawal from his father. Character is
| what man really is, and this young man
lost himself as he was before his sepa-
ration from his father, and in
the fall became something else.
A young man who had good parents and
who, at one time had character as good
as the best, became n proGigal. His
| char cter left him and he became an out>
cast He left his earthly father and his
heavenly father as well, and in the leav>
| ing fell from the position of honor and
| trust, and was lost t. God and man 10 re-
lation to that which was good. Is The
prodigal's reputation was Involved in his
| fall make a distinction between repu-
| tation aud character -'rht Latter is that
which man is. aud the former is that
which Il man is held to he lis the people
! If man loses his reputation he is in IA
condition, indeed, depIorAhie, A young
man ia Indiana left his better distraction
and wandered away from the rigat. He
lost bis character and then his previous
good reputation followed in the fall Il
is thus in every case of a falling into the
ways of sin and folly
Second. His fall involved his $ para,
ton from his father and home. This
means great deal. Every one who has
gone away from God Is IN like unhappy
condition. a. He had forfeited hi,
right o. claim to his fathers advice. He
had deliberately set at naught all that his
father had ever said to him How many
do the same today He must now 60
aoue ia the world e. He had severed
the ties of home relations. From now on
his associates must be thuse of like char,
acter with himself. His choice had beer
free, and so mis- life now must be of hi,
own making. Similar to his case Was
that Of man in another state, who. hay.
ing left home influences, became au alb
iect slave to the devices Of satan, and
the evil tendencies of his own heart
Such state ia exceedingly sad 81 He
had put himself beyond his fathers help
lie had gone deliberately from
his fathers care, and however mach hi
father might desire TO help him, he codld
not, for he had perhaps no knowledge o
his whereabouts. a young son left hi
father upon business, which, having
transacted, he left, with no word Of ex,
PLANTATION for that father He tried tt
find the boy. but could not, for he hat
placed himself beyond his reach So i
is when men leave God; they go in wa,
that he can not reach them to render hel
till they turn in their course.
Third His fall involved n state of ex
travagance q In temporal things. h
spent all that he had He was lavish Of
that which he had just as the young
man who frequents the saloon toda
D spends his all in his debauchery and sin
Extravaganza seems to be his watchwo ord
So every one who leaves God
, (2) Extravaganza in mind. This Wa
: very apparent. His mind was on every
thing of nature to destroy happiness
e When men leave God, the mind which h
a has given is used for everything othe
+ than his glory. 81 Extravagant in II
:, use of time Nothing done useful TIL
II was prominently the case of the prod
VI gal. His time was spent in riotous liz
rs ing and in all that the devices of sate
lie could suggest When DR.. Salter WI
lie travelling in Syria one day, he, with h
n guide came upon large number OF vel
he beautiful trees upon mountain sid
e. He was informed that they were of Il
TX cedar Species Soon they saw other tire
he in the valley below, which were mes
J, looking and very inferior. His guide to
H. him they were of the same snpcips