Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-03-17
PRODIGAL'S RETURN.
The Fling Of tie hlmighty's Forgive
ness on Every Hand,
And Wine Glowing in Large Cup. From
Ten Thousand Sacram.nts--ThsT Table
Reaches Across seas, and It, Guests
Are the Redeemed of Earth
Dr. Talmsge's sermon.

Dr. dlmage text sunday was Luke
XIV, 23: Bring hither the fatted calf
and kill it.
In all ages of the world il haa been
customary to celebrate joyful events
by festivity. The signing of treaties,
the proclamation of peace, the inaugu-
ration of presidents, the coronation of
kings, the Christmas, the marriage.
However much on other days of the
year our table may have stinted
supply, on Thanksgiving day
there must be something
bounteous And all the com
Portable homes of Christie ndom have at
some time celebrated joyful events by
banquet and festivity. Something has
happened on the old homestead great
er than anything that has ever hap
pencd before. A favorite son, whom
the world supposed would become n
vagabond and outlaw forever, has got
tired of sightseeing and has returned
10 ms fathers house. The world said
hc never would come back. The old
man always said his son would come
back. He had been looking for him
day after day and year after year.
He knew he would come back. Now,
having returned 20 his fathers house
the father proclaims celebration.
There is in the paddock CALI
that has been kept up and fed to ut
most capacity, SO as To be ready for
some occasion of JOY that might come
along. All. there never would be q
grander day on the old homestead than
this day. Let the butchers do their
work, and the houselteepers bring ii
to the table the smoking meat The
musicians will take their places and
the gay groups viii move up and down
the floor All the friends and neigh-
boris are gathered in, and an extra sup
ply is sent out TO the table of the serv-
ants. The father presides at the table
and says grace, and thanks God that
his long absent boy is home again. Oh!
how they missed him, how glad they
are to have him back
One brother stands pouting at the
back door and says: This is a great ado
about nothing; this bad boy should
have been chastised instead of greeted:
veal is too good for him. But the
father says: Nothing is too good,
nothing is good enough" There sits
the young man, glad at the hearty re-
ception, but shadow of sorrow fit
ted across his brow at the rcmem-
brance of the trouble he had seen. All
ready now. Let the covers lift Music.
He was dead and he is alive again. lie
was lost and is found! by such bold
imagery does the Bible set forth the
merrymaking when soul comes home
20 God
Firstof all there is the new converts
Joy. II IS no tame thing to become a
Christian. The most tremendous mo-
mcnt in a mans life is when he sur
renders himself to God. The grandest
time on the fathers homestead is when
the boy comes back. Among the great
throng who in the parlors of our
church profcsscd Christ one night was
a young man who next morning rang
my doorbciI and said: Sir, | can not
contain myself with the Joy /
feel; came here this morning
TO express it ! have found more
JOY in five minutes in serving
God than in all the years of my prodi-
gality, and came to say So" You
have seen perhaps man running for
his temporal liberty and the officers of
the law after him, and you saw him
escape, or afterward you hear the
Judge had pardoncd him, and how
great was the glce of that rescued
man; but 1t is a very tame thing that
compared with the running for ones
everlasting life, the terrors of the law
after him, and Christ coming in to par
don and bless and rescue save.
You remember John Bunvan in his
great story tells how the pilgrim put
his fingers 20 his ears and ran. crying
Life, life, eternal life" 4 poor car
driver some time ago, after years hav-
ing had to struggle to support his fam
lily, suddenly was informed that a
large inheritance was his. and there
was JOY amour ting TO bewildcrmcnt:
but that is a small thing compared
with the experience of one when he
has put in his hands the title deed TO
the joys, the raptures, the splendors
of Heaven. and he can truly say.
Its mansions are mine, its tenn
pies are mine, its songs are mine, its
God is mine.' Oh. it is no tame thing
20 become Christian. 1t is a merry
making. IL Is the killing of the fattcd
calf 1t is a jubilee. You know the
Bible never compares it TO funeral,
but always compares it to something
delightful II is more apt TO be com
pared TO banquet than anything else.
1t is compared i'm the Bible 90 water.
bright, flashing water, to the morn
ing, roseatc, Grcworkcd mountain
TRANSPORTED morning 1 wish ] could
to-day take all the Bible expressions
about pardon, and peace and life.
and comfort, and hope, and Heaven.
and twist them into one garland
and put 10 on the brow OF the humblcs'
child OF God in this assembiagc. and
cry. Wear it,. wear IL now. wear 10
forever; son OF Cod. daughter OF the
Lord God Almighty" on, the joy Of
the new convert Oh, the gladuess OF
the Christian service. You have seen
sometimes man in q religious as
-mhly get mp and give his experience.
Well, Paul gave his experience. lie
arose bro the presence Of two churches.
the church ON earth and the church boo
Heaven, and said. "NOw this is my
experience, eorrowful yet always
rejoicing; poor. yet making
many rich having nothing.
get possessing all things" II
Che people in tu.s house knew the iovs
ri the Christian religion they would all
pass over into the kingdom OF God tho
next moment When Daniel Saudc.
man was dying of cholera Doll, attend
ANT said. "IIlva you much PAIN?
ON hc replied since ] found the