The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-05-11

OrOtner ne uCterS paneSyr1c LOT
himself. The self-righteous man of
my text, like every other self-righteous
man, was full of faults. He was an
migrate. for he did not appreciate the
home blessings which he had all those
years. He was disobedient, for when
the father told him to come in he
staid out. He was liar, for he said
his fathers living, when the father. so
far from being reduced to perjury,
had a homestead left, had instruments
of music. had jewels, had a mansion,
and instead of being a pauper, was a
prince. This senior brother, with SO
many faults of his own, was merciless
in his criticism of the younger broth
err. The only perfect people that 1
have ever known were utterly obnox-
ious. was never so badly cheated in
my life as by a perfect man. He got
so far up in his devotions that he was
clear up above all the rules of COM
mon honesty. These men that go
about prowling among prayer meet
ings and in places of business, telling
how good they are-look out for
them; keep your hand on your pock-
etbook! I have noticed that just in
proportion as man gets good he gets
humble.
This self-righteous man of the text
stood at the corner of the house hug
ging himself in admiration. We hear
great deal in our day about the
higher life. Now, there are two kinds
of higher life men. The one is adj
mirable, and the other is most re-
pulsive. The one kind of higher life
man is very lenient in his criticism of
others, does not bore prayer meetings
to death with long. harangues, does
not talk a great deal about himself,
but much about Christ and Heaven,
gets kindlier and more gentle and
more useful until one day his soul
spreads awning. and he flies away to
eternal rest. and everybody mourns
his departure. The other higher life
man goes around with Bible conspic-
uously under his arm, goes from
church to church. sort of general
evangelist, is q sort of nuisance to his
own pastor when he is at home and
is away from home, runs up to some
man who is counting out roll of
bank bills or running up a difficult line.
of figures and asks him how his soul
is, makes religion a dose of ipec acu-
anha. Standing in n religious meet
ing making an address, he has a pat
ronizing way, as though ordinary
Christians were clear away down be-
low him, so he had to talk at the top
of his voice in order to make them
hear. but at the same time encourag-
ing them to hope on that by climbing
many Years they may after awhile
come up within sight of the place
where he now stands. I tell you plain
ly that roaring. roistering, bouncing
sinner is not SO repu1sive to me as
that higher life ma1formatf The
former may repent; the latter never
gets over his pharisaism. The young
er brother of the parable came back,
but the senior brother stands outside
entirely oblivious to his own delin-
euencies and deficits. pronouneing his
own eulogium. Oh. how much easier
it is to blame others than to blame
ourselves! Adam blamed Eve, Eve
blamed the serpent. the senior brother
blamed the younger brother. and none
of them blamed themselves.
Again. the senior brother of my text
stands for all those who are faithless
about the reformation of the dissipated
and the dissoiute. In the very tones of
his voice you can hear the fact that he
has no faith that the reformation of the
younger son is genuine. His entire man.
ner seems to say: THAT boy has come
back for more money. He got third
of the property; now he hascome back
for another third. He will never be
contented to stay on the farm. He will
fall away. would go in too and rejoice
with the others if 1 thought this thing
were genuine; but it is sham. That
boy is confirmed inebriate and debau-
Chez" Alas, my friends, for the
incredulity in the church of Christ in
regard to the reclamation of the rec
reant! You say a man has been strong
drinker. 1 say. Eyes, but he has re-
formed" ''Oh," you say, with lugu-
brious face, 81 hope you are not mis-
taken; / hope you are not mistaken
You say: Don't rejoice too much over
his conversion, for soon he will be un-
converted, l fear. Don't make too big
a party for that returned prodigal or
strike the tinlbrel too loud; and, if