Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for April 19, 1906
The Lost Found-Luke 15:11-s4

GOLDEN TExT.-Likewise, say unto you.
there is joy in the presence OF the angels
OF God over one sinner that repenteth.-
Luke 1910
THE SECTION includes the whole chapter,
or three aspects or the same great truths.
There is no parallel for this parable In
the other Gospels, but many passages
throw light on the different parts, as on
the wandering: Adam from Paradise; the
kingdoms of Israel and Judah. as shown
in the prophets; as on the fruit Of sin:
Psa. 107; Prov. 1:31. %; 1876, Is; Isa- 81 20,
p; Rom. 81; Solomon's experience in Ec-
clesiastes: and as on the welcome home;
Isa. 1:1S; 551-3; 56T: Matt. lbs: John
3:1o: Rev. 22:17; Rom. SIS: Eek 3S:14,15
uary, A D. 60
Professionalism in Perea-
LESSON NOTES
This is tie crown and pearl of par
ables It i, world of wisdom and
hope and love condensed into a few
words. It is a vision of the heart of
God. The lIlee parallels of this chap
ter should be stuffed together, as each
one is completed by the others. The
misunderstanding; which might arise
from the presentation of one view are
corrected by the others. There is no
one view of mans sin and loss, nor Of
Gods love to sinful man, which can pos
sibly present the truth on all sides
and in all lights. These parallels were
further unfolding of the truth that
the Gospel was for all men. It pre-
pared the way for the reception of the
Gentiles, and enabled the disciples,
when the time cane, to see that the
welcoming of the 'Gentiles was part of
the original plan Of Jesus.
The first picture we have presented
in the parable of the lesson is of he
Father and home The householder is
our Heavenly Father, full of love for
His children The two sons represent
different characters and classes among
them. There is a sense in which only
those who believe in Jesus and obey
God are HIS children (Rom. S:14-17;
John $3.50, AZ, AZ; but in another view
God is the Father of all men, though
wandering. and defled, and refusing to
act as children, for He has created them
IN His own image, cares for them, and
loves them as His own children; all
owe HIM honor, love and obedience.
1t has been suggested that this parable
with equal p'opriety might be called the
parable of the Bercaved Father.
The second picture presented is of
the wandering from this Father and
His home. The request Of the younger
son is the expression of mans desire
to be independent of Gods control and
restraints, and to do as he pleases. He
Is weary of seeing thou shalt nots"
over the gates of SO many a temple of
pleasure, and thinks he can be happier
to yield to his unrestrained lusts and
desires. So the younger son took his
journey into a far country" perhaps
to Rome or Corinth, where were gath
cred every luxury and vice.
The third picture is of wasted life.
Some have applied this "riotous living"
chiefly to wanton and dissipated sin
ners. It does apply to them, but it APP
plies also to all sinners; for they do
with spiritual things what riotous men
do with earthly things. The worldly
life is always a wasteful life. Itwastes
body and soul. Itwastes life and health.
Sinners waste their Bibles, their Sab
baths, the influences Of the Spirit, their
religious training, all their Heavenly
inheritance, and get nothing but tenn
porary pleasure in return.
The fourth picture Of our lesson is Of
4 Famine. It was q famine of the soul.
The pleasures of the younger son soon
failed. His money was gone, his seem
ing friends left him, his conscience tor
tured him, his heart was empty, he had
none Of the good things he had sought.
In the depthsl This is our fifth pic
ture- We observe that in this far-off
land the prod1gal, with all his banquets
and his lavishness had not gained sin
gle friend, so that it was iInpera tive
that he should have '*joined himself
Citerally glued himself to, in effect a
slave) to q citizen of that country
who sent him into his fields to feed
swine This was the most degrading
work a Jew could do. The boosted
freedom of sin becomes the most de-
grading slavery.
Then 1t was that he came to himself,
as one awakening out of ON evil dream,
or one who has lost lis reason, and has
been wandering in strange hallucina-
tons, becomes himself again, and sees
things as they are. The sinner is like
Jonah, sleeping in the storm, dreaming
beautiful but unreal and evanescent
dreams
When he had come to himself the
first step was to resolve to go to his
father. the second step, to- act. It
needed resolution. Doubtless the bat
lie of conflicting emotions-hope, vice,
conscience father and home AGAINST