The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-23

onist went out every night and wrestled with the statue until one night he threw it and if fel1 on him and crushed him to death. So jealousy Is not only absurd, but it is killing to the body and It is kill- ing to the soul How seldom 1t is you find one merchant speaking well Of merchant in the same line of business. How seldom it is ou hear of physician speaking well of a physician on the same block Oh, my friends, the world is large enough for all of us. Let us rejoice at the success of others. The next best thing to owning garden ourselves IS to look over the fence and admire the flow CTS The next best thing to riding In fine eauipage is to stand on the street and admire the prancing span. The next best thing to having banqu uet given to our selves is having banquet given to our prodipal brother that has come home to his fathers house.
 Besides that, if we do not get ns much honor and as much attention as others, we ought to congratulate ourselves on what we escape in the way of assault The French General, riding on horseback at the head of his troops, heard a soldier complain and say: 'It is very easy for the General to command us forward while he rides and when we walk" Then the General dismounted and compelled the complaining soldier to get on tho horse. Coming through ravine bullet from sharpshooter struck the rider, and he teil dead Then the General said: How much safer it is to walk than to ride!"
 Once more have to tell you that this senior brother of my text stands for the pouting Christian While there is so much congratulation within doors. the hero of my text stands outside, the cor ners of his mouth drawn down, looking as he felt-miserable. am glad his lugu- brious physiognomv did not spoil the festivity within. How many pouting Christians there are in our day--Chris- tians who do not like the music of our churches, Christians who do not like the hilarities of the young-ponting, poutfng, pouting at society, pouting at the fash ions, pouting at the newspapers, pouting at the Church, pouting at the Govern mont, pouting at the high Heaven. Their spleen is too large, their liver doe not work, their digestion is broken down. There are two cruets in their caster al- ways sure to be we'll supplied-vinegar and red pepper. Oh, come away from that mood. Stir little saccharine into your disposition. While you avoid the dissolutene ess of the younger son, avoid also the irascibility and the petuiance and the pouting spirit of the elder son, and initiate the father, who had 'em braces for the returning prodigal and coax'ny words for the splenetic and malcontent.
 Ahl the face of this pouting elder son is put before us in order that we might bet ter see the radiant and forgiving face of the father. Contrasts are mighty. The ;,, -i-at faId nf af years after the battle, put dove in the mouth of the cannon. Raphael, in one of his cartoons, beside the face of a wretch put the face of happy and innocent child. And so the sour face of this iras- cible and disgusted elder brother is brought out in order that i'll the contrast we may better understand the forgiving and the radiant face of God. That is the meaning of it-that God is ready to take back any body that Is sorry, to take him clear back, forever, and forever, and for ever; to take him back with loving hug, to put kiss on his parched lips, ring on his bloated hand. an easy shoe on his chafed foot, a garland on his bleeding temples, and Heaven In his soul Oh 1 fall fiat on that msrcyi Come, my broth er and let us get down into the dust re- solved never to rise until the Fathers forgiving hand shall lift us.
 Oh, what God w have! Bring your doxologies. Come, earth and Heaven, and join in the worship Cry aloud. Lift the palm branches! Do you not feel the Fathers arm around your neck? Do you not feel the warm breath of your Father against your cheek? Surrender, younger son Surrender, elder son. Surrender, all? Oh, go in to-day and sit down at the banquet Take a slice of the fatted calf, and afterward, when you gre seated, with one hand in the hand of the returned brother and the other hand in the hand of the rejoicing father, let your heart beat time to the clapping of the cymbal and the mellow voice of the flute.
 It is meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead and is alive again; and was lost and is found.