Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-04-04

the young man who nad siaid AT home.
went ont 10 find this prodieal brother and
son, and he came where he WAS and SAW
the young man wandering UP and down
In front of the place where he had been
staying, and The Young man who had kept
his integrity said to The older brother:
"Ilcrr, what dues all Ills meant What Is
the matter with you; Why do you act In
this way The lrud.al looked at him
and said: who am /: Who do you take
mo Ia hcf' Ilc said, You arc my broth.
er. No, | am not. am a brGto.
Have yuu seen anything of my wife and
children. Are they dead. ! drove them
out last night in the storm. ! am n brute.
John, do you think there IS any help for
me. DO yuu think will ever get over
this life 81 diS~iphtion:' He said, John,
there is one thing that will stop this. -
Tho prudiga! ran his fingers across his
throat ANA said That will stop IT, and |
will stop it before night Oh, my brainl
| can stand II 10 longer. That prodigal
never got home But will tell you of n
prodigal that lid get home In England
two young men started from their fathers
house ana went down To Portsmouth,
have been thcre-a beautiful seaport.
Some II You have been there The father
could not pursue his childrcn-for some
reason lac could not leave homeland SO he
wrote letter down Ia Mr. Griffin, saying;
MIR Griffin, wish you would go and
see my two SONS They have arrived in
Portsmouth. and they are going To take
ship aud going away from horne. wish
you would persuade them back.
The Pardon of the Gospel.
MIR Griffin went and tried To persuade
them back lie persuaded one To 90. He
went viii, Very easy persuasion because he
was very humcsick already. The other
young man said: viii not 20. have
had enough 81 home I'll never 20 home"
We'll" said MIR. Griffin, then if you
won't go home III get you "a respectable
position on IA respectable ship" No,
you won't said the prodigal; mo you
won't. am going rs II private sailor; as
"a common sailor That will plague my
father most and what will do most 10 tan
talizc ant, worry him will please mo best. .
Years passed on and Mr.. Griffin was seated
In his study one day when a messenger
came to him saying there was young
man in irons on a ship AT the duck--a
young man condemned tn dcath-who
wished to see this Clergyman. Mr. Griffin
went down To the dock and went on ship
board The young man said 10 him, "You
don't know me. do you!'' No. " he said
Il don't know YOU" why, don't You
remember that Young man you tried TO
persuade ta 20 home and he wouldn't COZ
''Oh, yes, " said Mr. Griffin Are You that
| man" Yes am that man. said the
other Il would like tn have you pray for
me. ] have committed murder and must
die but ] don't want To go ont of this
world until some one prays for me. You
ARE my fathers friend and would ike to
have you pray for me"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority
TO judicial authority to get that young
mans pardon lie slept not night nor
day. He went from influential person to
influential person, until In some way no
got thar young mans pardon. He camo
down on the dock and as he arrived ON the
dock with the pardon the father came. lie
had heard that his son. under "A disguised
name, had been committing crime and
was going 20 be put TO death so Mr..
Griffin and tho father went on ships deck
and Mt 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: Father, / have done very
wrong and am Vc.y sorry. l wish | had
never broken yuur heart. am very sorry!'
"Oh, said the father. don't mention ii.
II won't make any difference now. 1t is
all over. | forgive YOU, my son. !" And lie
kissed him and kissed him and kissed him.
Today 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 soul, against your fell
low man, against your family, against the
day OF Judgment, against the cross Of
Christ-whaieycr your crime has been.
here Is pardon, full pardon, and tho very
moment you take that pardon your Heav-
enly Father throws his arms round about
you and says; My son. | forgive you. 1t
Is all right. You are rs much In my favor
now as II You had never sinncd." oh,
there IS joy on earth and joy in heaven.
Who will take the Fathers cmbraccg