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-withn
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 not quite, not quite. To be almost saved
Is 10 be lost.
will tell you Of two proligals-the ono
that got back aud the other that did not get
back. In Richmond there Is very prosper
Gus and 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 90 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, Tho fact was he had come home
and driven them out He said: "Out Of this
house, Away with these children! | will
dash their brains out Out into the storm"
The mother gathered them up and fed. The
next morning the brother, the young man
who had staid at home went out TO find this
prodigal brother aud son, and he came to
where he was and saw the young mau wan
dering up and down' in front Of the place
where he had been staying, and the young
man who had kept his integrity said to two
older brother "Hnre. what docs all this
mean? What is the matter with your Why
do you act In this wayl' The proiical
looked Mt him and said "Who am l. Who
do YOU take the 20 bp2" H. said, lyon nrc
my brother "No. I am not. lam brute.
Have you seen anything Of my wife and chill
drcn? Are they dcadY Idrove them out las,
night In the storm. am n brute. John. d.
you think thero Is any help for me2 Do YOU
think will ever get over this life Of iissipa-
tionG' He said, John, there is one thing
that will stop this" The prodigal ran his
ingor across his throat aud said, "That will
stop it, and | will sop It before night. oh.
NV brain! | can stand Il no longer That
pro ltgal never got nome. But | will tolt YOU
ot prpligal that did get home In Eng
innd two young men started from their
fathers house and went down To Portsmouth
/ have been there--a beautiful seaport.
Some Of YOU have been there. The father
could not pursue his children some rra.
son he could not leave homc.-1nd so he
wrote letter down ~ Mr.. Griffin, saving;
"Mr. Griffin. | wish YOU would ~ and
sea my two sons. They huvo arrived
IN Portsmouth. AMI they are going to
take ship and going away from home.
/ wish you would persuade thom hark.
Mr.. Griffin wont and tried to persuade
them back. He persuaded one to -. Ho
went with very easy persuasion, because he
was very home-irk already. Tho other
young mau sud; Twill not 20. have had
enough Of home. III never 20 home"
"Woll,' said Mr.. Griffin, "then II YOU won't
60 nome, u Iet you respectable position
on u respectable ship "No. you won't, ="
said the prodigal. "No you won't am
going ~ n private sailor. ~ common
sailor; that will plague nv father most. aud
whnt will do most TO tnntalizo and worry
him will please mo best Years passed. on.
and Mr.. Grtlin was seated in his study one
day when u messenger came 10 him, saving
there was young man in irons on ship at
the dock-n young man condemned 10 death
who wished 10 srr this clergyman. Mr..
Grnln went down to the dock and went ON
shtpbOard. Tho young man sGid to him,
You don't know mo, do you2' "No" " ho
satd, ~ don't know you" "Why, don't
you remember that young man you tried To-
persuade to 20 home an he wouldn't gos"
"Oh. yes" said Mr.. Grifln. ar, you that
man. "Irs, am that man, "-aii the other
81 would like 10 have you pray for me |
have committed murder. AMI | must die
But don't want tp 20 out Of the world I'M
I'll some ono prays for me. You are my
fathers friend and wouli like 10 have you
pray for me-"
Mr.. Grimm went from Judicial authority to
judicial authority TO get that young mans
pardon. Ho slept not night nor day. lie
went from influential person To- influential
laFscn Until IN some way he got tIAt young
mans pardon. lie came down on the dock,
and rs he arrived on the dock with tho
pardon the father came. lie had heard that
his son. under disguised name, had brcn
committing crime aud was going 70 bc put
to death. SO Mr.. Griflln and tho father went
On ships dock. and at the very moment Mr..
Griilin offered the pardon 10 the young man
the old father threw his arms around tho
sons neck. AMI the son said: Father, |
have done very wrong, and am very sorry.
| wish | had never broken your heart. |
am very sorry!' "Oh," said the father
don't mention IT, II won't make any differ
ence now. Its all over. forgive YOU. my
SON. And he kissed him and kissed him
and kissed him. To-day / ofrrr You the par-
don Of the go,pel-fu.l pardon. free pardon.
| do not care what your crimo has been.
Though yon 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-whatcyrr your crime has
been, here Is pardon, full pardon. and the
very moment YOU take that pardon your
Heavenly Father throws His arm, round
about YOU and says "Nly son, | forgive you.
1t Is all right. You are ~ much IN My favor
now as IL YOU had never sinued.' on, there
Is Joy on earth and joy in heaven. Who will
take the Father embra'nt