Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-31
THE PRODIGAL SON.
LESSON v, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 8.


phial
II. "And he said, A certain man had two
sons.n This is the beginning Of the third sec
ton Of this parable, which is a continuation
OF the lesson of last week. The whole parable
teaches the great love of God, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, for lost, and helpless,
and erring humanity; and the sympathy OF
the angels with God in His Joy over the sal.
walton of the lost
~ And the younger Of them said to his
father, Father, give me the portion Of goods
that falleth to me. And he divided unto
them his living" The sin Is seen in the sons
desire for the things Of his father rather than
for the father and his love. The desire also
for independence Of the father and separa-
ton from him indicates the ingratitude of
his heart and his insensibility to the fathers
love and care.
49, And not many days after, the younger
son gathered all together, and took his jour
ncy into far country, and there wasted
his substance with riotous living" The first
illustration Of this rebellious nature in man
is seen in Cain, who would not submit to the
kind requirements of a loving God but pre-
ferring his own way went out from the
presence Of the Lordn Gen iv, 100 to do as
he pleased 1t is seen in Esau, who preferred
mess Of pottage to his God given birth
right Gen. XIV, 1854
a. "And when he had spent all, there
arose mighty famine in that land; and he
began to be in want" When we turn away
from God, who is the fountain of living wa
ters, and seek to satisfy ourselves with aught
else, even with the gifts of God, we are hew.
ing out cisterns broken cisterns, that can
hold no water (Jer ii, l3), and sooner or later
we shall surely come to want.
10 "And he went and joined himself to a
citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine" The far country
into which he went from his own fathers
house and plenty is all about u.s. 1t is this
present eva world which lieth in the wicked
one Gal. i, 4; | John v, 49,, and which al
lures us away from God. All who are UNI
saved are said to be far off, and because of
their sinful and unclean natures are compared
to dogs and swine (Eph ii, 10; II Pet ii, go.
IL. "And he would fain have filed his
belly with the husks that the swine did eat;
and no man gave unto him" First want
then worldly helps, and now a beastly appe-
tite.
II. "And when he came to himself, he
said, How many hired servants Of my ia
theirs have bread enough and to spare and
perish with huugerln He had been so full
of self and self seeking that the Fathers
house had not been much in his thoughts, eX
cept perhaps as the recollection of restraint
which he could not submit to. But by hay
ing his desires granted no has been led to see
somewhat of the leanness Of his soul (Ps
cvi, l5). We read in Cor. V, s. of one being
delivered unto Satan for the destruction of
the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the
. IL. a.
1890, we read of dreams, visions, sickness
and Affections as means used by God With
men to bring back their souls from the pit,
to be enlightened with the sight of the living.
Is. ~ will arise aud go to my father,
and will say unto him, Father, | have
sinncd against heaven and before thee
In the story of the lost sheep and lost piece of
money we saw the seeking shepherd and wo-
man with the light. The Sheep and the
money did nothing the shepherd and woman
did all. But here is "A responsible human
being who has gone astray like lost sheep,
and has been as inscnsibe to his fathers love
as piece OF metal.
10. "And am no moro worthy to be called
thy son: make hlo us one of thy hired ser.
wants. He was unworthy to be called the
son of such father when he had plenty and
was living riotously or even when no left
that fathers home, or when he demanded his
share of the goods But he did not know it,
and could not, under those circumstances be
made to see it. The only way to humble him
and bring him to his senses was the way be
was allowed to take Now he sees his sinful
ness and uuworthness rs he could not other
wise have been made to see it,
20. "Aud Ne arose aud came to his father
All his conviction, and sense of unworthiness,
and good resolutions, would have gone for
nothing had he failed 70 take this step. He
might have remained in the far country and
died there full of conviction and good resolu
tons. But nero is the saving point, ''He arose
and came" And now we shall see the re-
suit.
But when he was yet n great way Off his
father saw him, and had compassion, and
ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him
Here is the Love of God which said to one
poor sinner, Thy sins are forgyen; thy faith
hath saved thee so in peace" And to an
other, Neither do | condemn thee, go and
sin no more,n and which says to all, Him
that cometh unto me | will in no wise cast
OUT duke vii, As, 81; John viii, II; vi, 80.
81 "And the son said unto him, Father.
have snncd against heaven, and in thy
sight, and am no more worthy to be called
thy SON. This was not all he had intended
to say (sec verse lM, but it seems to have been
as far as he got 1t is "a high honor to be IA
servant Of God, but lie makes us His chill
dren, children OF God and joint heirs with
Christ when IN true panitenca we come to
Him John I, IL; Rom viii, II; John XIV, l5).
IL we confess our sins lie is faithful and jus;
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse Us from
all unrighteousneSs Il John /, ~.
- But the father said 10 his servants,
Bring forth the best robe, and put it ON him.
and put IA ring ON his hand, and shoes on
his feet Think Of Adam and Eve having
lost their fellowship with God aud hiding
from Him bccaus" of their sin; and see God
clothing them NTH coats of skins which He
had made Gen III, ~. See the robe of
righteousness, and garments of salvation of
lsl Xxi l0 II Cor y, 81.
- And bring hther the fatted calf, and
kill it, and lei us eat and be merry" If, in
tho previous verse, we have forgiveness of
sins, and Righteousness, and full restoration
10 position and Inheritance and authority,
here we have true fcliu Nship and great JOY.
The forctaSte is enjoyed here when He comes
in to sup with us and We with him Q}ev. iii,
20 but the full joy will be when we eat and
drink with Him at His table in His kingdom
luke xxi, 3O See in Mordecai's exalta-
ton, apparel, aiorniug and in the joy and
gladness Of Che people, foreshadOwlng of
Kingdom JOYS (Esth viii, l5-l1l
a. For tins my son was dead, and is
alive again: he was lost, and is found. And
thev began to be merry For the third time
in the parable lie tells us of the joy over the
lost when found. And again IN verso 81
Surely that which gives such joy to Father,
Son and Holy Spirit should give great joy
10 every child of God. But ls it not 10 be
feared that the spirit OF the elder brother
might be still manifest If we should make
much ado over the conversion Of some poor