The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-08
THE "PRODIGAL SON."
"His ResolatiOn"...Rey. L. w, Read
Continues His Interesting
DiscOnrses.

The sixth in the series OF sermons on
the ''Prodigal Son. was preached by
Rev. l. W. Read in the First Baptist
church last evening A complete synop
sis of the discourse is appended
The resolutions of men are very FREE
quent We all resolve and resolve, but
such thing is useless unless such reso,
lutions are put in execution. In order
that any plan We shall make may prove
effectual, it is necessary that such plan be
executed. Resolves without action is
like an ak without handle-useless in
its present condition. The Prodi9al res
solved that he would arise and go to his
father. This was very commendsble
thing. If each one here tonight would
make the same resolve 10 respect to God,
aud then carry it out as the Prodigal did,
it would secure to you blessings of ines
Unable value.
First This resolution indicates
change of mind, IL is true in the case of
all resolutions of moral value, especially
was seen in the case before us. Previous
to this the Prodigal had been thinking of
his own debauch and selfish interests but
now his attention is turned toward his
fathers house and the manner in which
he had treated the love of that home.
% This resolution indicated change
OF mind IN its desires. This is perfectly
plain Before, his desire had been to,
ward those things away from his father;
but now he thinks of the tender and Gear
relations of home. 1t is ever thus when
one is brought to a realization of his true
condition away from God. He begins
then, like the one of old, to desire some>
thing more Of the things of this life
which have no power TO give lasts
ing satisfaction Oh, that everyone
here would change in the desires of
the mind from the tleetlng things of time
to the enduring things of eternity. q
This resolution indicates a change of
mind in its inclinalionS. 1t is fact that
we do that thing toward which the mind
is most strongly inclined The man who
deliberately commits theft has incllna
tons that run in that channel. The
Prodigal when away from home, endured
Tall his poverty and anguish in cOnse-
quence of the inclination at first to get
away from parental restraints. Now the
whole scene Is changed and the inClina~
ton is toward his home, and hence the
decision Now the mind is natur>
ally inclined 10 sin, and it is
the part of wisdom that this
inclination be changed toward that
which is more worthy of true manhood.
| (3) This resolution shows change of
mind in its purposes, Heretofore there
had been manifest the reigning purpose
TO crafty self, but now the picture
changes and the sole purpose of the mind
is to get home. During the late war the
purpose of the soldier was 10 gain vic
| tories, but when the war closed the puro
pose changed to a determination to get
home Every man must have a change
OF purpose before he Can come to God.
| He must resolve to Quit sin and cleave In
| God
Second. This resolution indicates Il
| change ia the moral forces of the soul.
| These forces must be changed or the
whole struggle of life is a failure. The
| Prodigal realized that and so made HIS
determination Cd II shows change
of moral forces by self>assertion. lie
said: Il will arise" The better self here
asserted its power and manifested its real
character. He would no longer be led by
companions whose whole aim was TO get
what he had. He must assert himself,
| and this o1ly as he recognized something
of higher nature than his physical self
So must everyone come who resolves t.
seek God and the mansions of the blest
e. 1t shows a change Of moral force
by immediate action. There was 10 time
to be lost. There are times when action
is demanded at once. This was one OF
them Now was the time to rise and 90
Like Lot when he was told the city would
be DESTROYED, he understood that he mus
flee for his life. 1t was thus with the
Prodigal. and so must it he with you i
You attain to eternal salvation. 81 |
shows a change of moral forces hy thu
decision to which he came, Il will wa,
the ruling purpose in his heart and mind
If OGe can be brought to decide ques,
ton the whole matter is settled; 1t is in
decision that keeps men in a state of tor
ture, and sends them TO rum. Decision
mesns something done. Many thing,
combine to produce decision. In this
case no doubt it was realization OF his
elpless state and the thought of the home
and the loving father left, These same
thoughts ought to lead you to decide fol
God tonight You are unlOnc by thu
power of SIN. and lie lovingly calling
you.
Third. This resolution brings before
us some important truths. ID Il
shows us that such resolution
could not have been made with
out repentance. There must nee
essarilv have been this element in orde,
to bring the mind into proper state tt
resolve. Now repentance means both
sorrow for sin. and a determination to
turn from it. These two elements we SEE
in the case before US. He was heartily
sorry for what he had done, and immedi-
ately decided to turn from his sinful life
These same things must be seen in every
one who sincerely turns from sin and fol
lows God, through Christ. ca 'Thi
resolution could not have been put into
execution without faith There must be
the element to produce the determination
to arise. The young man thought of hi
father and believed in him-had taitt
that he would do all for him which h,
desired. SO must every one SO think o.
God in order to secure the help needed
The everlasting Father is full of compas
sion and ready to bless, but each of u
must believe in him as such in order /
secure the blessing. 81 This resolu
ton could not have been carried on
without yielding. He gave up self at thi
2 time; he realized that self was poor SUI
s port. He thought of what he had beef
. and of what he was and was willing t,
cast all now upon him whom he had de
serted, and whose love he had trample,
: under foot A soldier lay dying in til
: hospital, and when the chaplain cam
round and spoke to him he was sad a
| his condition hut when the account n