The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-24
A SEAS0NABLE SUNDAY.
The Various Churches
Filled With Interested
Congregations.
mon Az OLD MARKET HALL.
Other Sermons aud Church Notes,

lcrcc, an the places Of worship being wei
aied. The following were the most IN
1eresting features Of the day:
In. Hoge IN old Market Han.
Rev Dr. Hoge preached last night al
the old Market TO his usual immense con.
gregatiOn lie took as HE subject, The
Pearl Of Parallels THE Prodigal Son '
Text Luke, 10th chapter, ll;h 10 25th
verse
TIL 5LnNON
Ono star diifera from another star IN
glory All the parallels Of our Lord
shine, hut not ~ ith the same bright
ne-s--aN are luminous, but ~ are
not equally luslrous 4 little glTl
once asked her mother If the stars
were not gimlei holes 10 let the glory
through Ii they are, this parable IS =
star OF the first magnitude Now when
i use the word
PARABLE
] wonder II The hundred children here 10.
night know what q parable is ] will
try 10 tell them. 4 parable is q story
made on purpose to teach children, little
and big something worth knowing A
story often makes things plain that would
be hard tO understand without IL Our
Saviour often spoke in parallels when he
wanted everybody TO know exactly what
hc meant The parable of the prodiCai
son is story Of the plainesi kind. bur it
iesches the greatest lessons. II is Tie pearl
OF parallels A pearl l. q precious stone,
clear as q drop OF dew. Ii is found In
humble places-in oyster shells--but
when pearls are strung like beads, then
queens love 90 wear them.
The parable Of the prodigal son is so
beautiful that q minister once said that
he did NOT dare 10 preach on il, because
ne could add nothing 10 what is SO per
feet That is true No minister can i'm
prove IL. or even do Justice 20 it, but HAT
is no reason why he should not preach on
it de cannot brighten The pearl, but he
can put il in good light so that others
can see and admire IT, II we are not 10
preach Oh what is perfect in beauty, we
viii not have so many tcXis 10 choose
from The garden OF Eden was alto
gCthcr lovely with its green grass and
sweet flowers. and shining rivers and
fruitful trees growing on the banks, but
u AMaMA N'A "aA NUNS Atft g 'ArNA- ~
on the garden Of Eden as 10 make men
lepl0re Paradise lost and long for Para
disc regained The Bible gives us
picture OF Christ which cannot be made
more perfect, but sermons about Christ
lead men TO trust Him, love Him, and be
saved by Him. Nothing that ministers
sav can add 10 the glory of Heaven, but
n thew can reflect one ray Of Heavens
glory or q congregation, that ray may be
/ light 20 guide some wGnderer home.
We cannot DO Justice 10 the parable OF
NE prOdical sOn-it Is so tender, so sub
luing-but we preach on il all the same,
because who knows but our simple talk
about ll may lead some young man 10
say, " will arise and 60 10 my Father
D that IL may be so tonight The Lord
lelp me to speak, and this great assembly
20 TO hear, that salvation may come 10
many precious souls
\ GREAT LESSON.
Now al the beginning Of my sermon,
.et as fix 10 our minds the one great truth
his parable teaches Ii is good thing
when our attention Is fixed On one i'm
oortant matter, the main matter con-
aimed in the text.
This parable was meant 10 show what
patient, loving, and forgiying Father
God is. God is a law giyer God Is
Judge, God is q king, but this parable
was meant 70 reveal God as q Father
airing for his children, full OF pity Tor
hem even when they forsake Him, when
hev waste His gifts, abuse His goodness,
md trample on His love; a Father
whose heart vearns for the repentance
md the return Of His wandering, un-
worthy. v.unerateful childTen-ready 70 for.
i've them when they are penitent, ana
o welcome them when they come BACK
o the home they have shameiuliy aoan.
loned. This | say is the chief lesson OF
he parable. There are other truths
sught in Il, but It is always wise TO al
end first 10 what is most important,
ma what most concerns us. This morn
rg before sunrise ! saw the moon shin
NJ IN splendOr ia the western sky, but
v6en tie sun rose did not miss the
icht Of the moon shall not attach so
nncb importance TO the other lessons
gbich the parable teaches as TO this one,
be Fatherhood of God shining IN Tie
ieavens and flooding the earth with Ie'
living, comforting light
TIKI HOME FoRsAEEE
A certain man had two sons. The eld'
.st The prudent elder brother, knew
rhen he was well of and was content 10
raw al home, where there was an souno-
nce of everything 10 make life plea
81. hnt the Younger CAV, and thought
ass longing for adventure, impatient OF
.estroint eager for fancied liberty ana
determined 10 break away
ron au that bound him 10 his birth
,lace and 20 out 10 see the world toI
limself. IN vain did his iather warn
,in OF his youth and inexperience ana
he dangers 10 which his health reputa,
ION and happiness would be exposed
we're he 10 forsake the home where he
,ad found shelter and safety, and every
hing that ought 70 satisfy him All this
,lvice ali these cautions and warnings
we're wasted on him. Full OF curiosity
IAN Of self confidence, tired ot the place
rhere there was too much dull quiet ioI
IA taste too much restraint for his
ikinr he almost demands the portion OF
ais father estate WA4NA tI Ai-~'
coming 10 him, and for which perhaps
5e thought he had waited 100 long a,
-esdy. The old man might live = good
Zeal longer. and so be must have bis por'
ION now. The father yields 10 his i'm
oortunity. and in Il moment OF iona IN
5nlgencs consents and prepares for both,
many an anxious day aud many POT,
powful '-., might. lie divides his living, and
he heedless boy gets ready TO leave the
,ld homo. not knowing where he might
or whether he would ever re-
.urn.
THE FAREWELL.
Now the parting moment has come. IL
NAV be that for an instant he regrets his
decision. lie looks in the old man 8 lace
and sees sorrow and love mingled there
Tears are on shat face, and anguish Is IN
.hst heart, and when he feels the ola
mans arms around him and hears how
lis voice trembles as in broken words he
tiers his tender farewell, he Ia almost