The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-04-09

these twelve men lay at the foot OF the pull
pit. and he read over them the funeral SER
vice. They came very near shore-within
shouting distance Of the shore-yet did not
arrive on solid land There are some men
who come almost to the shore OF Gods mercy,
but moi quite, not quite. To be almost saved
Is TO be lost.
will tell YOU Of two pro1igals-the ono
that got back aud the other that did not get
back. Ia Richmond there is a very prosper
ous aud beautiful home In many respects A
Young man wandered on from that home,
He wandered very far into sin. They heard
Of him after, hut he was always on the
wrong track. He would not 20 home. At
the door Of that beautiful home one night
there was great outcry. The young man
Of the house ran down TO open the door to
see what was the matter. II was midnight.
The rest of the family were asleep. There
were the wife and children Of this prodigal
young man. The fact was he had come home
and driven them out. He said: "Out OF this
house, Away with these childrenl | will
dash their brains out! Out into the STORM"
The mother gathered thcm up and fled. The
next morning the brother, the young man
who had staid at home, went out TO find this
prodigal brother AMI son, and he came 10
where he was and saw the young mau wan
dcring up and down in front Of the place
where he had been staying, and the young
man who had kept his integrity said 10 the
bi'lfT NFOlntf' 'h'Efs WHIT uOf~ Nli llll~
mean? What Is the matter with you2 Why
do YOU act In this way The prodical
looked at him and said "Who am L. Who
do Won take mo to be2" H. said. "You are
my brother "No. am not am brute.
Have you seen anything OF my wife and chill
dren? Are they dcad2 Idrove them out las,
night in the storm. lam brute. John, do
you think there is any help for me2 Do YOU
think will ever get over this life OF iisspa-
tionY" He said, "Jphn, there Il one thing
that will stop this" The prodigal ran his
finger across his throat aud saidi "rhat will
stop It, and | will stop It before night. oh.
my bruinl can stand Il no longer" That
proligal never got nome. But | will toll you
of proligal that did got home. In Eng
land two young men started from their
fathers house and went downto Portsmouth
l have been thcrr--H beautiful seaport.
Some Of YOU have been there. The father
could not pursue his chldrrn--'or some r'a.
son ho could not leave home so hc
wrote n lcttcr down to Mr.. Griffin saying:
"Mr. Grinin, wish You would - and
/ SEQ my two sons They have arrived
In Portsmouth. and they are going to
take ship and going away from homo.
/ wish YOU would persuade them hHrk.
Mr.. Griffin went and tried 20 persuade
them back. He persuaded ono TO -. Ho
went with worry ctSy persuasion, hrcHusC hr
was very homesick already. The other
young man said: Twill not 20. have had
enough OF home. I'll never go home"
"Wcl,' said Mr.. Griffin. 'thcn IL YOU won't
90 home, IN get you u respectable position
ON respectable ship "No. you won't
said the prodisa. "No. you won't. am
going as II private sailor. ~ common
sailor, that will plague my father most aud
whnt will do most to tantaize and worry
him will plensc mo hcst." Years passed on
and Mr.. Griflin was seated I'm his study one
day when u messenger came to him. saving
thsFp l. "a d ,,f,u "a Lii la, at
the dock-I young man condemned To- death
who wished to scr this clergyman. Mr..
/ Griillu went down To the dock and went on
shtpbOard. Tho young man said 10 him,
You don't know mo, do your "No, ~ ho
said. ~ don't know you "Why, don't
you rcmembnr that young man YOU tried To-
persuade TO 20 home AMI he wouldn't gos"
"Oh, yes, said Mr. Grilln. Arc You that
mani" Eyes, am that man, " said the other.
81 would like 10 have you pray for mo |
have committed murder, and | must die.
But don't want t. 20 out Of the world un-
Ill some one prHys for me. You are my
fathers friend, and would like to have you
pray for me-"
Mr. Grifln went from judicial authority 90
judicial authority 10 get that young mans
pardon. lIo slept not night nor day. lie
went from influential person to influential
| ptEsCn Until IN some way ha gbt Lat y Uug
mans pardon. He came down on the dock,
pardon the father came. He had heard that
his son. under disguised name, had been
committing crime aud was going 10 hc put
&c death. So Mr.. Griflln and tho father went
Gu ships deck, and AT the very moment Mr..
Griffin offered the pardon 10 the young man
the old father threw his arms around the
| sons neck. and the son said: Father,
have done very wrong, ana | am very sorry.
| wish | had never broken your heart.
am very sorry "Oh," said the father,
"don't mention II. II won't max" any differ
encc now. Its all over. | forgive you, my
| SON." And he kissed him and kissed him
and kissed him. To-day offer You the par
/ don Of the go-pei-ful pardon. free pardon.
| do not care what your crime has been.
Though yousay 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-whntcyrr your crime has
been. here Is pardon, full pardon. and the
very moment YOU take that pardon your
| Heavenly Father throw, His arms round
about you and says. "My son, forgive you.
IL is all right. You ARE ~ much IN My favor
now IL If you had never snnri.' ON, there
is joy on rurth and joy ia heaven. Who will
take the Fathers embrace