The Penn's Grove record., 1896-04-10
PENIS GROVE, N. j.. FRIDAY. APRIL 10. 1886

housed Away with these childrenl l will
lash their brains outi Out into the storm"
The mother gathered them up and fed. The
aext morning the brother, the young man
who had staid at home, went out to find this
prodigal brother and son, and he came to
where he was and saw the young man wan
ierng up and Iowa in front Of the place
where he had been staying, and the young
a h had kept his integrity said to the
plder brother; "Here, what does all this
hean2 What is the matter with you2 Why
10 you act In this way2" The prodigal
BOXED at him and said: "who am II Who
10 you take me to be2' He said, ''You are
by brother" "No. 1 am not. lam a brute
Have you seen anything OF my wife and chill
iren2 Are they dead2 Idrove them out last
night In the storm. 1 am a brute. John, do
you think there Is any help for me2 Do you
think I will ever get over this life OF iissipa-
ion2" He said, "John, there is one thing
hat will stop this" The prodigal ran his
1nger across his throat and said: ''That will
stop II, and I will stop It before night. Oh,
my bratnl ] can stand 1t no longer" That
prodlgal never got nome. But l will tell you
Of a prodigal that did get home. In Eng
land two young men started from their
fathers house and went downto Portsmouth
Il have been there-a beautiful seaport.
Some OF you have been there. Tho father
could not pursue his children-for some rea-
5Du ho COulu uOl iOtfo bO ho
wrote a letter down to Mr.. Griffin, saying:
"Mr. Griffin, l wish you would go and
He my two sons. They have arrived
IN Portsmouth. and they are going to
take ship and going away from home.
I wish you would persuade them back.
Mr.. Griffin went and tried to persuade
.hem back. He persuaded one to go. He
was very homesick already. The other
young man said: II will not go. 1 have had
enough Of home. I'll never go home"
''Well," said Mr.. Grimm, "then II you won't
go home, I'll get you a respectable position
on a respectable ship" "No, you WON'T"
said the ~prodigal. mo, you won't. 1 am
going as a private sailor, as a common
what will do most to tantalize and worry
him will please me best" Years passed on,
aud Mr.. Griffin was seated in his study one
day when q messenger came to him, saying
there was u young man In irons on a 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
Fhipboard. The young man said to him,
You don't know me, do you?" "No." he
laid, ~ don't know you." "Why, don't
you remember that young man you tried TO
persuade to go home and he wouldn't Rop"
h0b, yes" said Mr.. Griffin. Are you that
lnan2" Eyes, 1 am that man, said the other.
II would like to have you pray for me. I
have committed murder, and 1 must die.
But 1 don't want to go out of the world un-
Ill some one prays for me. You are my
lather's friend, and I would like to have you
pray for me-"
MIR. Griffin went from judicial authority to
judicial authority to get that young mans
pardon. He slept not night nor day. He
went from influential person to influential
person until In some way he got that young
mans pardon. He came down on the dock,
and as he arrived on the dock with the
pardon the father came. He had heard that
his son, under a disguised name, had been
committing crime and was going to be put
to death. So Mr.. Griffin and the father went
en- ships deck, and at the very moment Mr..
Grimm offered the pardon to the young man
the old father threw his arms around the
IONS neck, and the son said: Father, /
have done very wrong, and am very sorry.
I wish 1 had never broken your heart. I
am very sorry!'' "0h," said the father,
don't mention T.. It Won't make any differ
ence now. tits all over. I forgive you, my
son." And he kissed him and kissed him
and kissed him. To-day 1 offer you the par
don Of the gospel-fuIl pardon, free pardon.
l do not. care what your crime has been.
Though you say you have committed a crime
against God, against your own soul, against
your follow 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 moment o take that pardon your
Heavenly Father throws His arms round
about you and says; MY son, I forgive you.
II is all right. You are as much in My favor
now as II you had never stnned." oh. there
Is Joy on earth and Joy In heaven. Who will
AXE the Fathers embraee2