The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-07

IS gone and brothers and sisters all gone. I
think this young man of tae taxi said to HIM
self. "Pernaps father may be dead. Stlll
he starts to find out. He is homeslcS. Are
there any here to-day homesicA 1or God,
homesick for heaven?
will tell you Of two prodigals, the one
that got back and the other that did not get
back. In Richmond there is very prosper
Gus and beautiful home in many respects.
Young man wandered off from tnat home.
He wandered very far into sin. They heard
of him often, but he was always or the
wrong track. He would not 60 home. At
the door Of that beautiful home one night
there was great outcry. The young man
of the house ran down and opened the door
to see what was the matter. 1t was mid
NIGHT The rest of the family were asleep.
There were che wife and children of this
prouigal young man. The fact was he had
come honls and driven them out.
He said: ''Out Of this house. Away with
these children. will dash their brains out.
Out into the storms" The mother gathered
them up and fed. The next morning the
brother, young man who had staid at
home, went out to find this prodiSal brother
and son, and he came where he was and saw
the young man wandering up and down in
front OF the place where he had been stay
ing, and the young man who had kept his IN.
tegrity said to the older brother: "Here,
what does this mean? What Is the matter
with you? Why do you act in this way% The
prodigal looked at him and said: "Who am
I? Whom do you take me to beT'
am not. am brute. Have you seen any
thing OF my wife and children? Are they
dead? drove them out last night in the
storm. l am brute, John. do you think
there is any help for me? Do you think /
will ever get over this life Of dissipation@
he said, John, there is just one thing that
will stop this" The prodigal ran his finger
across his throat and said: THAT will stop
it, and I'll stop it before night. Oh, my
brain; can stand it no longerp That prod.
igal never got home. But will tell you of
prodigal that did get home.
In this country two young men started
from their fathers house and went down to
Portsmouth. The father could not pursue
his children; for some reason he could not
leave home. and So he wrote letter down
to Mr. Griffin, saving: "Mr. Griffin, wish
you would go and see my two sons. They
have arrived in Portsmouth, and they ara
going to take ship ami going away from
home, | wish You would persua lie them
back" Mr.. Griffin went and he tried
to persuade them back. He persuaded
one to go. He went with very easy
persuasion. because he was very homasici
already. The other young man said: II
will not 60. I have had enough of home.
III never go home" SWELL" said MIR.
Griffin, ''then if you won't go home I'll get
you respectable position on a respectable
ship" mo, YOU won't" said the prodigai:
mo. you won't. am going as a common
sailor that will plague my father most, and
what will do most to tantalize and worry
him will please me best"
Years passed on and Mr.. Griffin was
seated in his study one day when a message
came to him saying there was young man
in irons on ship at the dock--a young man
condemned to death-who wished to see this
clergyman. Mr.. Griffin went down to the
dock and went on shin board. The young
man said to him. "You don't know me, do
your mo" he said, Il don't know you"
"Why, don't you remember that young mon
you tried to persuade to go home and he
wouldn't go7' "Oh, yes," said Mr.. Griffin;
'tare you that manp eyes, I am that man"
said the other. s'I would like to have you
pray for me. have committed murder and
must die, but don't want to 60 out Of this
world until some one prays for me. You
are my fathers friend and would like to
have you pray for mo-"
MIR. Griffin went from judicial authority
to judicial authority to get that young
mans pardon. He sle2t not night nor day.
He went from influential persons to indu
entail persons until in some way he got that
young mans pardon. he came down on
the dock, and as he arrived on the doce
with the pardon the father came. He had
heard that his son under disguised name
had been committing crime and was going
to he put to death. So Mr.. Griffin and the
father went on ships deck, and at the very
moment Mr.. Griffin offered the pardon to
the yonng man the old father threw his
arms around the sons neck and the son said:
"Father, I have done very wrong and I am
very sorry. wish had never broken your
heart. am very sorry" "Oh,' said the
father, ''don't mention it. 1t don't make any
difference now. 1t is all over. forgive you,
nv son." and he kissed him and he kissed
him and he kissed him.
To-day I offer you the pardon of the Cos
pel-full pardon, free pardon. do not
care what your crime has been. Though
you say you have committed crime against
God, against your own soul, against your
fellow man, against your family, against
the day Of Judgment against the cross Of
Christ-whatever your crime has been, here
is pardon, full pardon, and the very mo-
ment you take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws his arms about you and says:
"My SOD, forgive you. 1t is all right.
| You are as much in My favor now as il you
had never sinned." Oh, there is joy on
earth and Joy in heavenl Who will take
| the Fathers embrace?