Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-06-15
NUMBER "a.
Again. / remark that tho penior

brother of my text stands for the spir-
it of envy and jealousy. The senior
brother thought that all the honor
they did TO the returned brother was
wrong to him: He said; ~ have
staid at home, and i ought TO have had
the ring, and l ought TO have had the
banquet, and ought to have had the
garlands.' Alas for this spirit of envy
and jealousy coming down through the
ages, Cain and Abel Esau and Jacob,
Saul and David Haman and Mordecai,
Othello and lago, Orlando and Angel
lea, Caligula and Torquatus, Caesar
and Pompey, Columbus and the Span
ish courtiers, Cambyses and the broth
er he slew because he was better
marksman, Dionysius and PhiloNenius,
whom he slew because he was better
singer. Jealousy among painters.
Closterman and Geoffrey Kneller, Hud.
son and Reynolds. Francia, anxious to
see picture of Raphael, Raphael sends
him picture, Francia, seeing it, falls
in fit of jealousy, from which he dies.
Jealousy among authors. How seldom
contemporaries speak of each other!
Xenophon and Plato living at the same
time, but from their writings you never
would suppose they heard of each 9TH
er. Religious jealousies. The hoham-
medans praying for rain during
drought; no rain coming, Then the
Christians begin TO pray for rain, and
the rain comes. Then the Mohammc-
dams met together to account for this,
and they resolved that God was so well
pleased with their prayers He kept the
drought on so as to keep them praying,
but that the Christians began to pray,
and the Lord was so disgusted with
their prayers that He sent rain right
away, so he would not hear any more
of their supplication.
wrestler was so envious Of Theog-
cnes, the prince of wrestlers, that he
could not be consoled in any way;
and after Thcogenes died and statue
was lifted to him in public place
his enyious antagonist went out every
night and wrestled with the statue.
until one night he threw it, and ii
fell on him and crushed him 10 death.
So jealousy is not only absurd, hut it
is killing TO the body, and it is kill
ing to the soul How seldom it is you
find one merchant speaking well of
merchant in the same line of business.
How seldom it is you hear physician
speaking well of physician on the
same block. Oh, my friends, the world
is large enough for all of us. Let us
rejoice at the success of others.
Besides that, if we do not get as
much honor and as much attention as
others, we ought to congratulate our
selves on what we escape in the way
of assault. The French general riding
on horseback at the head of his troops
heard soldier complain and say: at
is very easy for the general TO command
MS forward while he rides and we walk"
Then the general dismounted and COM
PEELED the complaining soldier TO get
on the horse. Coming through ra-
vine, a bullet from sharpshooter
struck the rider, and he fell dead. Then
the general said: How. much safer il
is to walk than to ride."
Once more / have to tell you that
this senior brother of my text stands
for the pouting Christian. While thero
is so much congratulation within doors.
the hero of my text stands outside,
the corners of his mouth drawn down.
looking as he felt-miserable / am
glad his lugubrious physiognomy did
not spoil the festiyity within. How
many pouting Christians there are in
our day-Christians who do not like the
music Of the churches, Christians who
do not like the hilarities of the young
pouting, pouting, pouting at society,
pouting at the fashions, pouting at the
newspapers, pouting at the church.
pouting at the government, pouting at
High Heaven. Their spleen is too large,
their liver does not work, their diges-
tion is broken down. There are two
cruets in the caster always sure to be
well upplied-vinegar and red pepper!
Oh, come away frVm that mood. Stir
little saccharin into your disposition.
While you avoid the dissouteness OF the
younger son, avoid also the irascibility
and the petulance and the pouting
spirit OF the elder son, and initiate the
father, who had embraces for the re-
turning prodigal and coaxing words
for the splentic malcontent.
All, the face of this pouting elder SON
is put before us in order that we might
better see the radiant and forgiying
face of the Father. Contrasts are
mighty. The artist, in sketcbiug the
field Of Waterloo years after the battle,
put dove in the mouth Of the cannon.
Raphael, in one Of his cartoons, beside
the face of a wretch put the face of
happy and innocent child And so the
sour face of this irascible and disgusted
elder brother is brought out in order
that in the contrast we might better
understand the forgiving and radiant
face of God. That is the meaning of it
that God is ready to take back any
body that is sorry, TO take him clear
p"Nnf W tuhN ulbi Ddth lOIfNtl anu
ever and forever, TO take him back with
allowing hug, to put kiss on his parcbed
lip, a ring on his bloated havl, an easy
shoe on his chafed foot, garland on
his bleeding temples and heaven in his
soul. Oh, | fall fiat on mercy Come,
my brother, and let us get down into
the dust, resolved never 10 rise until
the Fathers forgiying hand shall lift usi
On, what God we have! Bring your
doxologies. Come, earth and Heaven,
and join in the worship. Cry aloudl
Lift the palm branchesl Do YOU not
feel the Fathers arm around yollr
neck? DO You not feel the warm breath
of your Father against your cheek?
Surrender, younger son! Surrender,