The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-27

Cliinh VIII ever GET over Giiis 1Aio "
dissipation" He said: "John, there IS
just one thing that will stop this" The
prodigal ran his finger across his throat
and said: ssThat will stop it; and III
stop it before night. o. my brain! ! can
stand it no longer" That prodiga!
never got home But I 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 80
he wrote letter down to Mr. Griffin,
saying: ssMr. Griffin, I wish. you would
go and see my two sons. They have ar
rived in Portsmouth and they arc
going TO take ship and going away
from home. / wish you would
persuade 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 homesick already. The
other young man said, II will not go.
have had enough of home I'll never
go home" s'Well,'' said Mr.. Griffin,
''then if you won't go home I'll get You
respectable position on respectable
ship" "No, you won't" said the prodi-
gal; ''no, You won't I am going as
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 mes
sage 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 wentsdown to the dock and
went on shipboard. The young man
said to him: "You don't know
me do youg' mo- he said. Il
don't know you" "Why, don't
you remember that young man you
tried to persuade to go home and he
wouldn't go?" so, yes!" said Mr.. Crit
fin, ''are you that manP" Yes, am the
man." said the other. II would like to
have you pray for me. I have COM
don't want to go out of this world until
some one prays for me. You are my
fathers friend, and I would like to
have you pray for me-"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial au-
llthority to judicial authority to get that
young mans pardon. He slept not night
NOR day. He went from influential per
son to influential person until in some
way he got that young mans pardon.
Il Ir,,1y nd ,Sh he
arrived on the dock with the pardon, the
father came. He had heard that his son
under disguised name had been COM
uniting crime and was going to be 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 young man the old father threw
his arms around the sons neck, and the
son said: Gather, have done very
wrong and am very sorry. wish /
had never broken your heart. I am very
sorry" "Oh!" said the father, don't
mention it. It don't make any differ
ence now. It is all over. I forgive you,
my son." and he kissed him and kissed
him and kissed him.
To-day offer you the pardon of the
gospel-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 judg-
ment, 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 Heav-
emily Father throws His arms about you
and says: ''My son, forgive you. It is
all right You are as much in my
favor now as if you had never sinned."
Oh! there is joy on earth and joy in
Heaven. Who will take the Fathers
embrace?''