Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson fer April 10, 1855
The Lost Found-Luke i5:iI-aA.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes

tnternatiouai Lesson fer April Id, 1855
The Lost Found-Luke i5;il-:4.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notesl
GOLDEN TExr.-Likewise. say unto you
there is JOY In the presence OF the angels
ot God over one sinner that repenteth.-
Luke i5-10
THE SECTION includes the whole chapter
or three aspects OF 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 or
the wandering: Adam from Paradise: the
kingdoms of Israel and Judah. as shown
In the prophets: as on the fruit of sin:
Psa. l07: Prov. 81. %: 1876 Is: Isa 81 20
q: Rom. l:32 Solomon's experience in Ec-
clesiSstes: and as on the welcome home
Isa- LIS: 5j1-3; 55:7; Matt. lips: John
3:I5: Rev 22l7: Rom. 5:s: Eek Ss1i.l5.
TIME.-December. a. u. % or early jan
Uary, n. ID. 20.
Professionalism In Perea.
LESSON NOTES.
This is TIE crown and pearl of par
lbles. 1t u n world of wisdom and
nope and love condensed into q few
words. 1t - a vision of the heart of
Sod. The tn ee parallels of this CHI: D.
Ter should be stuffed together, rs 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
ono 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
n further unfolding of the truth that
the Gospel was for all men. 1t pre-
pared the way for' the reception of the
Gentiles. and enabled the disciples.
a. no, I,g
welcoming of the Icntiles was part OF
the original plan ct 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
Ills children The two sons represent
Inherent characters and classes among
them. There is a sense in Which only
those VINO believe in Jesus and obey
God are HIS children (Rom. S:14-iT;
John $3.50, 40, 40: 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
N 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
Ills home. The request of the Younger
son is the expression of mans desire
to he 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 n far country" perhaps
to lone or Corinth, where were gath
cred every luxury and vice.
The third picture is of a wasted life.
Some have applied this ''riotous living"
chiefly TO wanton and dissipated sim
ncrs. 1t does apply to them, but il APP
plies also to all sinners; for they do
with spiritual things what riotous men
do with earthly things. The worldly
life is always wasteful life. 1t wastes
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
Famine. 1t was n famine of the soul.
The pleasures of the younger son soon
Jailed. 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 dcpths This is our fifth pic
ture. We observe that in this far-off
land the prodigal, with all his banuuets
and his lavishness had not gained n sin
gle friend, so that il was imperative
that he should have coined himself
Oiterally glued himself to, in effect n
slavc) to citizen of that country"
who sent him into his fields to feed
swine. This was the most degrading
work jew could do. The boosted
freedom of sin becomes the most de-
grading slavery.
Then it was that he came to himself.
as one awakening out of an evil dream.
or one who has lost his reason. and has
been wandering in strange hallucina-
tions, becomes himself again, and sees
things as they are. The sinner is like
Jonah. sleeping i'm the storm. dreaming
beautiful but unreal and cvanescent
dreams
When he had come to himself the
FIRST step was to resolve TO go to his
father, the second step. to- act. II
needed resolution. Doubtless the bat.
&c of conflicting emotions-hope. vice.
conscience, father and home against
doubt whether he would be received:
shame. conscious unwortliiness. fear q.
the taunts Of his companions-was very
severe Tn, proposition Ito" (came tc
ms father, Y. 2O) should he rendered
toward lie did not come ito" his
father; his father came out to him.
Tn" picture we now have is of the
welcome home. We should here note
that the robe was that which was worn
by Jews of rank; that the ring in the
east is the symbol of rank, equivalent
To armorial bearings i'm European coun.
tries; that shoes were worn only bv
treemen, never by slaves The saved
sinner is no hired servant. lis serv-
zee ~ q service OF love. He becomes
ihc son and heir of God.