The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-07-30

SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition OF the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Reflection
Half an Hours study OF the Scriptures
Time Well Spent

Time Well Spent
The lesson for Sunday. Aug. 3. may DO
| found In Luke Is: ll-24.
INTRODUCTION.
| This parable. with its setting, is peculiar
| TO Luke. What blessed addition II Is to
| the Gospel narratives OF Matthew. Mark.
anu John How bereft We should feel
without It'll Doubtless. up TO date. more
| men can trace their conversion TO the
| soncltatlon OF this parable than to any
other single Scripture. Up 10 date. We
say; Tor In the progress OF doctrine and the
| general growth OF mankind other OF the
pregnant similitudes OF our Lord may
| come into larger prominence and effi-i
cheney; the parable OF the great price. for
| exaD. pie. or the utterance Of Christ regard
ing the little children. Enough for us to
| know however. that this arrow from our
| Lord culver when sped on Its way readi-
y hnds lodgment In the heart Of humanity.
| May Its use in many Sunday schools to-
day'bring new trophies to the Master
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS,
| And he said. An added illustration OF
the great truth OF Gods love that Christ Is
teaching. Like skillful lawyer he watches
his auditors and piles argument upon argu-
| ment until he has made conviction certain.
| "A certain man. The final application IL
evidently TO God in his dealings with the
| race.-Two sons. Either Pharisee and
| sinner. or jew and Gentle or both IL Is
| broadly descriptive OF two classes OF the
| human family, or OF angels and men.
The youngest. AS perhaps the most
|
day. the least entitled TO property conces-
| sions.-tather. give me. His withdrawal.
In this case. though within his power. will
| fully dero2atory TO the home.-Portion of
| goods. Or. property. see Variations. This
! was about one-thrd. the eldest having
| two-thirds. See Deut. u: 1911. CT Cen
| %: 3l.-He divided. 1t is interesting to
note that tho only other use OF this word is
| 10 be found in l. Cor. II. where it occurs
| four times in succession. VS.. f. 5. 6. IL.
| Not many days. The swift course OF
| selfish dependence.-Tookh his journey.
Literally. went abroad. /. O.. became n for
| eigner. The same word used at Matt 21 SO.
| where the husbandman went into far
| country far country. Suggestive OF
| the distance that the sinner has put be-
| tween himself and God. Lit
orally. scattered. 1t IS translated strewed
| at Matt 20: 24--klotous living. More
| accurately, living recklessly. The word
| rendered riotous signifies Willingness
to save. the negative Of the verb TO save
| 5000.
Spent all The same word is to be found
| In James 4: 3: That ye may CONSUME IL
| upon your lusts. "A mighty famine.
| Literally. strong famine, OF great compass
and severity. such dearths were common
| and are still in the East.--Io be in want.
| Curtously enough, this word means orig
inally TO be short or IN arrears.
| The best robe or first robe. A flowing
garment indicating distinction. See Mark
| II: 80; 1853; Rev. 8: Liking. Indicat-
ing ado ption. as the robe indicated accept
ance.-Shoes. or sandals. for entrance.
| Fatted cal. Kept Tor great occasions.
And kill it, or sacrifice ii. A religious
least.
Lost. 1t was as life out OF death. for the
| wages OF sin is death"
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
A certain man had two sons. There are
| but two. Many have tried 10 prove that
| more than two sons are 10 be found. But
| IL we can judge from the data given in Bible
truth and the fields OF etnology there is no
| There a tWOtOll order
| created Intelligence, angelic and human
And all save the angelic are prodigals IN
la country. Men may try as they will to
| convince US that they are still by nature
in the fathers house. That nature betrays
| them every time. They are bond-slaves to
! sin. They are feeding swine In far coun-'
| try. The million aire on the avenue. the
| man with his bucket from the back street.
| the cultured European, the ben lighted Hot
tentOt all alike show the features Of the
one son. the prodigal. All we like sheep
| have gone astray We have turned every
| one TO his own way.
With riotous living. very out break
ing sinner we take him 10 be. and so We
! excuse ourselves from the comparison.
But we mistake. His life is a fair reflection
| OF our own, rs wanderers from the Fathers
house. The word literally means to be I'M
saving. to fail TO husband resources. II Is
| not necessary to indulge in midnight or
| gies. TO openly and blatantly profane His
| name and His day, TO run amuck upon the
streets in order to come under the scope
OF this tell-ta Scripture. Just to fail to
use HES moments Alright is TO be far
country sinner. The prodigals offense
was useless waste OF his substance upon
| himself. This young man OF very genteel
conduct, this young woman OF delicate
rearing may still be guilty OF the prodigaFs
| offense: may be wasting substances in
riotous living. All selfshness is riotous in
Gods sight.
Joined himself to a citizen OF that coun-
try. We join ourselves to one or the other.
Satan or Christ. We go under bonds to the
| lord OF one kingdom or the other. In the
| Acts we read that "of the rest burst no man
Join himself to them" the disciples and the
disciples Lord. Then they join themselves
| TO the other party and to the prince OF the
| powers OF darkness. There is no neutral
| ground. His servants We are to whom ye
obey" Presently this young man is speak
ing of hired servants" He is not thinking
altogether OF debasing himself by ecoming
hired hand in his fathers house. He is
| hired servant already to sin, yea. more. a
bond slave 10 Satan. Which will you join
yourself unto. Christ or Satan? For the
| wages OF sin Is death, but the gut OF God Is
eternal life
He came to himself. SO we all recall it.
| That hour OF conviction was like n new
vision OF self, that hour OF conversion like
| an uncoveriny OF our better nature. All sin
is n sort OF dementia; rebellion against
| God is arrant folly, wretched madness.
| What more insane than TO contend with
| him who fashions and who feeds u.s. What
/
when our own way leads to the pit and Gods
way TO Paradisel o. this poor. mad world
fattering itself with empty vanities. stulti-
| tying itself with paltry excuses 1t is be-
aide itself. gone clean daitl Lord bring US
20 ourselves that we may see what we are
by nature. what we may be by gracel
Bring forth the best robe. blessed in
corruption. The young man had learned
| his speech well: Father. / have sinned
against heaven and in thy sight" True.
indeed. all sin reaches heaven high and
smites at the foot Of the throne itself.
, And am no more worthy TO be called thv
som" True again, sin sewers us from all
worthiness in Gods sight But do you no.
tice. according to our common readings
which are probably correct that Is as far
I as the prodigal got in his prayer Make
me as one OF thv hired servants. he was
| gong TO say in abiectness Of soul. But he
does not say IL. His words ara smothered
| in his fathers embrace. Kisses stay the
speech upon his lips, and it is the father
who speaks instead. saying Bring forth
, the best robe" And now with that best
! robe upon US arc any OF us still counting
ourselves merely hired servants?-