The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-24

what bad brought MN 10 leau rcnglOu'
life. He answered Ny friend az part
ing said Remember eternity. AL
through the voysge, with the sound Of
the wind in The rigging, and with The din
Of the waves on the sides Of the ship,
there seemed to mingle that sound Re
member eternity and the words rung In
nv ears until they sounded In my heart,
and by Gods grace / have been led not
only TO remember, but 10 prepare for
life eternal
GOOD REsoLUTIOS.
The prodigal said I will arise and
90 10 my father That was the turning
point Ia bis history. Let those who have
wandered from God initiate him there.
Don't 90 on wishing. hoping, Intending,
drifting al The while farther away, but
stop, think, resolve. No man was ever
saved who did not first resolve by Gods
grace and help that he would be saved.
Such a resolution is putting the foot on
.he first round Of tie ladder by which
,On mag ascend 10 heaven The prodi-
gsl did more than Tesolve-he acted on
mis- resolution tie soid | Will arise,
and then be did arise. He said
viii GO. then he went lie never
.topped on The way As he pressed
along he composed a little speech be
meant 10 make to his father, bur while
he me1iiated he went on steadfastly. II
he had stopped even within mile OF bis
fathers house. and gone no farther, be
might 19 well have stayed in the Tar
country Many say will arise aud
20 10 my father" and they 20 a part o.!
the way Int then turn back. 4 young
man was once under conviction fOI sin
aad hc made up bis mind 10 come 10 my
house one night and talk with NE about
the wsy of salvation He came las ]
afterwards leaIned) 70 the gate, he went
up the steps. he put his hand ouI 10 ring
The bell and then his heart failed him.
lie went away and never came back
again Oh. had he known how ! would
have welcomed him-how / would have
prayed with him, perhaps he would have
come IN, and that might have been
turning point in his history
The pIOdigal did not turn back. he
fastened On until az ls-i he saw The
familiar trees and the well-Iemembered
dear old home And now comes the ten
ierest scene Of this sacred story. l sup
pose there was not a day when the old
father did not think Of his long lost son
not p day when he had not gone
out on The iat-roOf Of his house 70 watch
For him but one day as he strained his
oyes down the long avenue, he saw
sight which made his old heart beat with
/ quicker ihrob He saw some one COM
ng towards the house who reminded him
)f his son The eye OF love Is quick.
The approaching figure was bent-ihe
head of the conner was bowed down-hi.
,lothes were in tatiers-he was little
more than skin and b0ne-he looked
ike q tramp. but through ell the disguise
II poverty and rags the father recognized
lis long-lost boy-rccognlzcd him while
He WAS YET a CREAT WAY orr,
md then the old man forgot his age,
orgot his cruich. forgot everything but
owe and Joy, and ran 10 meet him and
ell on his neck and kissed him."
When Dr Alexander Martin, Of Dan
lille, and myself were both young men
il the ministry he preached for me one
Wednesday night, and took for his sub
ect the parable Of the pr0digal son i
-Oung man IN the congregation Sat just
n front Of the desk, and when the
peaker came 10 describe the old father
With his arms around his son neck, kiss
ng his sad. fsmine-wasled cheek the
-outh became 50 affected that he burst IN
O tears, and, sitting there that moment he
esolyed, 81 too viii arise and 20 10 my
7ather" Soon after he made profes-
ion Of his faith became an active church
member. and 10 the day OF his death
.dOrned his religious profession by his
consistent pieiy.
! pause minute 10 give You time 10
make The same resolution / Will arise
nd 90 o my Father"
You have wandered long, and wan
Tered 10 a great distance, but God sees
far oif--sees the first risings Of good de-
irc-the first throb Of penteni emOiion
ecs the resolution as it is formed IN the
lcart, before il is put into language by
he lips, win arise and 20 70 my
Father" This parable opens the door 10
very returning prodigal-a door which
,Gn never be shut-and 2 voice comes
,ut Of it saying, Him that comelA unto
We will ii no wise cast cut"
q, what 3 picture we have here OF the
loving God-ready 70 forgive
eady to save sometimes people say
We have lived such vile lives that God
would not receive us il we came" but
zee how the Father welcomes this pToAi-
yate who wasted his substance With har-
ots and riotous living. Others say
hey are not ft 70 come-not penitent
.nough-not influenced By the right mo-
iyes-in q word, they say there IS moth
NJ IN themselves which gives them the
slightest claim on Gods favor What
lid the prodigal have 10 recommend
lims Destitution and rags; yet his
sther would not hear his confession
through II was enough that hls boy
lad come back, and so he cried Bring
'orth ring and robe, aud lets have
music and feast, and let all the house
lold Join in the joy, for this my son
vas dead but ls alive again, was lost ana
: found"
And so our Saviour put crown on the
head Of this parable when he says !
,av unto you likewise there shall be JOY
N the presence OF the angels OF God over
lne sinner that repenteth." And what
Is this but saying In another way that
here is a deeper, diyiner Joy IN the
heart OF the God Of angels when prodi'
yal comes home. When YOU see the bat
dement's Of heaven al crowded with
forms of radiant angels watching the re-
oentance Of the sinner and exulting IN
iubilant songs over bis return, you have
but faint picture Of the Joy which ILLS
the bosom Of the Eternal Father when
lie says OF sons and daughters brought
home They were dead but are alive
again they were lost but are found.
REV. DIR. HATCHER At THE GRAcE-sTREET
BAPTIST.
At the Grace-Street Baptist Church
the services commenced with
a HYMN, after which Dr. Hatcher read
for the instruction Of the congregation
n