The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-10-25

g. And bring hither the fatted calf, and
Xiii II: and let US eat, and he merry.
Il For this my son was dead, and is alive
again; he was lost. aud Is found. And
they began to be- merry.
GOLDEN TENT viii arise nnd 20
to my futher.-iule lois.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The parable of the prodigal son is
one of group of PARALLELS uttered hy
Jesus, showing why ana when it was
duty to receive sinners. But it is
more than that. 1t is declaration
of the fatherhood of God, ana His un-
changing love for the beings He has
created.
LESSON ANALYSIS.
The Prcdigal Son..................vs. Il-12
Ills NaudSringS.... ......................Vs. l3-ll.
Disastrous Experience. R-l6.
y Sensible sOIutlOu..............vs. l1-ly.
His Return Home and Welcome VS.. 2O-2i
The Elder Son....................,.. 25-32,
The Prodigal Son. - The eleventh
verse gives us picture o. happy
home, with father and his two sons
as the central figures. The father was
prosperous nan. The elder son ac-
cepted his place in the home and set
tied down to its routine OF work and
pleasure. The younger son was rest
less and discontented. He wanted "to
see the world"
His Wandering,-Shortly the young
er son went away from home, and
for "A time lost himself in riotous liv-
ing.
A Disastrous Experience.-The cur
tain is bound to fall, and when it fell
after the riotous time in far coun-
try the prodigal found all the lights
zone out, the good fellows" gone,
none of the cheer left, and famine
facing him, SO that he was glad to Sc
cure the most menial employment, and
would have eaten even the stuff with
which he fed the swine
A Sensible Resolution. - Misfortune
and suffering are the only things that
bring some people to sober view of
life. When the young man came to
take this sober view, came to his real
self, and saw things as they were he
knew something had TO be done. The
contrast between his fathers luN-
to him. He had been a son in the
home, now he would gladly be serv-
ant there. 7 he thought no sooner
came than the resolution formed it.
self. We cannot but think of the
struggle that must have taken place
within him on the way back. He
would have to acknowledge defeat,
meet the criticisms and censorious
glances of his old-time friends, and
even the anger, perhaps, of his own
father.
His Return Home and Welcome
What must have been the surprise of
the prodigal not to have met the recep-
tion he expected. His father showed
no anger, but recognized him great
way off, "and ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him" This is picture Of the
Heavenly Father. We may know that
we merit rebuke. but once the decision
is made to return to Him. He shows
His boundless love, He utters no CEN
sure, but is even more glad to receive
us than we are to turn from the way
Ol SIN W tHt pa VI me anu IlS ulcOuS-
ness.
The Elder Son. There are many Of
him in the world. Note that his gem
eral course was right one. But he
spoiled it all by one little, mean act.
He refused to rejoice for the return of
his brother. He lacked that love which
makes every service joy. The right
way had been TO him the best way, be-
cause it had been the most expeditions.
There is nothing to show that he
stayed at home because he loved the
old place or to be with his father His
feeling was no better than had been
the younger sons. But he profited by
his foresight while his brother lost all
he had. The younger gained in its place
a love for his home and his father.
Note, too, that the fathers attitude
had changed toward neither son. He
welcomed the younger because he
had been a long time absent. but for
the ungraciousness of the elder son he
had only words of kindness. He sim
ply said: "All that is mine is thine"
Rams Horn Blasts.
There is room in Gods sympathy
for all our sorrows.
Gods power is given only fo- Gods
purposes.
Tu>t- A Il