Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-14
FROM THE PULPITS.
lsT. Dr.. Whitley GiIss the Biography
ola Penltsnt Soul.
Rev. Mr.. Hunter breaches On
DanciaG. and Rev. Mr.. stickney
Discoarses upon Falsehood and
Trath-Other Church News.


OF the pastor. Rev. j. T. Whitley. which
~as announced as a sequel to the one OF
he previous Sunday evening. The text
vas Luke xv.. i7-24. and the topic. THE
Biography Of Penitent Soul" The
preacher said. in substance:
Tho first half OF the parable Of the
Prodieai Son. as q is universally called,
traces the career OF young man from
innocence and contentment In the pa
rental home 10 guilt and shame In a far
ard inhospitsbls land, and delineates his
varied experiences Of gladness and bad
ness and madness and sadness. The lat
ter part Of the parable. UP to the oath
verse. gives us the sequel to the story
OF the wsnderer. showing how the prodi-
gal became a penitent. and the exile in
she far country became once more an
honored inmate OF his fathers home.
This later story ] would call THE BIZ
,sraph OF a Penitent Soul: and. like
he sadder story that precedes II. this
naturally falls into four simple. but pro-
.oundly interesting, chapters.
"HE CAME TO HIMSELF"
80. says the record: And when he
came 20 himself, he said. How many
bred servants OF my fathers have bread
enough. and to spare. and ! perish with
hunger. I will arise and so 20 my father,
md will say unto him. Father. ! have
unned against Heaven. and before thee,
and am no more worthy TO be called thy
son; make me as one Of thy hired ser
yants'" He had been beside himself
IN the Authorizations Of selfishness and
yice, but he comes back 10 his true self
~ the first movement toward better
life. Note that the primary occasion OF
his change for the better was want. In the
coarse forms Of hunger. rags. and expo
sure. This coming 10 himself was marked
sy wistful memories OF home. keen
sense OF his own sin and unworthiness.
and a firm resolution 10 20 back TO ms
? father with words OF confession ana
humble entreaty upon his lips.
Thus always, the first step out OF
worldiness and sin towards God and
Righteousness is a return To ones self
the recovery of moral sanity. This is
brought about sometimes by one means
sometimes by another-hunger. nakedness'
sickness, bereavement, many other
things Always the Holy Spirit Is at
the root OF IT. and the restored sanity
Is manifested and evidenced by serious
reflection, wistful memories OF better
DAYS. sorrow for sin, deep sense OF uh-
worthiness, and determination TO con
fess and seek to repair the errors OF the
past. All this Is what an apostle calls
.renentance toward Cod II is not pos
sible 10 make the homeward start in any
other way; the sinner from his madness
must come TO himself.
HE CAME TO HIS FATHER.
"The narrative tells us; And he arose
and came to his father IL was the ma
tural result Of coming 10 himself. Re
stored mental and moral equilibrium
pointed straight toward a restored TEL
lowshlp with his father Marx the I'M
plication that he acted promptly there
was no time 10 lose. And he came just
as he was, instigated primarily by bodlly
want. then by hunger Of soul ior pardon
and peace He came with full confession
OF sin with humble acknowledgment OF
unworthiness Of being restored TO SON
shin; and he would have implored hired
servants place had not forgiving love
anticipated him.
The second chapter. then. in the BIZ
oqraphy Of "A penitent soul. Is entitled,
he Came TO His Father Repentance
results In confession and prayer for
mercy Note that IL t. his father. not
his fudge, nor merely his sovereign. to
whom the penitent sinner comes. In
the Divine fatherhood is his hope. II did
not consist with the drapery Of the para
bic that mention Of the atonement should
be made Jesus had not died. and such
mention would have been premature. But
every well-taught child now knows that
he penitcnts approach to the Father Is
o be made through the intercession of
the crucned Son. Promptly. Just. as
ae Is. with the confession Of sin. willing
% take The lowest place IN the household.
and humhly trusting in the merits OF
-rucined and risen Saviour. the penitent
.oul should return 10 his Father. With
a. g. nj resolve
previously made. all thought and emotion
and resolution amount TO nothing. The
meditaiive ponltent must become the ac7
tive pilgrim homeward bound.
HIS FATHER CAME TO HIM.
Apparently. the father. in the yearn-
ing love that he felt for his absent ana
erring boy. was accustomed to watch the
highway. hoping for his return. AL
last, one day. he deserted him a great
way or and, recognizing him in spite OF
his forloYn condition. he ran 10 meet him
with compassion in his heart. and with
loving welcome in his embrace and kiss.
Had the father stood on his dignity he
might have withheld all welcome until
the prodigal had covered In abject hu-
initiation at his feet. Had he been stern
he might even then imposed hard con-
1itlons Of winning reluctant pardon:
But. being a loving father beyond all
else he went TO meet the penitent. and
.ut short his self-reproach with a perfect
welcome.
..Thus II Is with every wanderer who
comes back to God. IL Is our Father
with whom We have TO deal, and He al
y-ays comes forth TO meet as In the
psrson OF His Son lie has come all the
way from Heaven TO earth that we might
he assured OF his readiness to forgive.
The running OF the prodigals father
signifies Gods eagerness To meet us In
reconciliation. That fathers embrace ana
kiss OF welcome denote Gods instant
md tender forgiveness OF the penitent
soul lie reads the confession before
the lips complete IL; and with touching
generosity He seals the trembling lips
with the kiss OF peace.
HE CAME TO HIS HOME.
.'With his arms around the neck OF his
boy the rejoicing father led him home.
Servants were called and commanded to
remove those ta,tcred and gravel-stained
garments and 10 put on the restored son
he best robe In all the capacious ward
-obe as a mark Of special honor.
slrg. having on IL a seal. the symbol of
authority. was placed upon his hand.
Shoes were put upon his feet as symbol
% freedom. The fatted calf was killed.
east prepared. and merry company
iolned the happy father In celebrating
The finding OF the lost and the restoration
10 life OF him who had been as dead.
badness had come again 10 the young
Ran's heart.
~The final chapter In the life-story OF
peptlnent soul is entitled; He Came
10 His Home God leads him into the
Fathers House. Not mere forgiveness.
but honor Is conferred upon him. Au
thority IL entrusted to him. Liberty is
bestowed--,he glorious liberty OF the sons
Of Cod The resources OF Heaven are
taxed 10 provide feast OF welcome. An
gels rejoice over the sinner that repents
There l. holy merriment among the saints
on earth and among the glorified ones
OF the upper world. The dead is alive
again. the lost is found The Restored
son. not forgetting his former folly but
happy In his fathers love and trust
moves freely about his fathers house
Enjoying all things more keenly because
they were once lost TO him. and deter
mined 10 abide forever under the parental
roof-the hearts true home. The peni-
tent has become the saint. and earth has
become To him the yestibule OF Heaven.
20, souls that resel In the mad orgies
on the far country, or sit desolate H.
It's swine-furrowed fields. your Father is
thinking OF you and waiting for you 10
como home. The old home Is incomplete
without you. and the Fathers arms have
place unified AZ the table there is
ma .k.f.