The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-18

is probable that God has made 2 revelation
f4;en aI9 a.:Tet to a aS.. er s1sSssI.." n h''
Third, "WeI do you not think" said he,
that He would make that revelation plai1
If We were to ask Him." and the old po.:
fessor answered, II should think He would
wen" said Dr.. Rainsford. "have you
ever asked Him." and the old man an
"For my sake" said he. will you ask
Him now" and they fell upon their knees
in the study, and the old minister said.
Lord Goo, reveal Thyself unto my dear
aid Now "I Profe ess You You pray" and the
old man lifted NJ his eyes and said, "Oh,
God" and then as if he felt he had gone
too far, he changed his petition, and said,
"Oh, God, II there be q God, show me the
light and I will" and he was just going
on to say, II will walk in it," when sud-
denly he sprang to his feet with his face
radiant and shouted, Why. I see it, ! see
it, and it is glorious!" His agnosticism
took wings and departed from him: Faith
filed his heart and joy thrilled, in his sou:
disciple Of Jesus Christ. In the light OF
all this I make the plea, only encourage
your least desire, and you shall come TO
know Him whom to know is life eternal.
III.
he had COMP ASSIGN AND RAN"
I never knew until recently what that
word compassion" meant. know now
that il indicates ones suffering with an
other. It 10 this that makes the story OF .
mans transgression 30 pathetic. Other
hearts are made to ache and almost break.
Other eyes are filed with tears and other
lives made desolate. I can see this OLD
father going up to the outlook from h,s
home, gazing of in the direction which n,s
asai son hI nv p son' would 81 SId God od'i / Fad adj died for
you'll" He had compassion.
We had in our city a young man who
was more than ordinarily prosperous IN
his business, and his prosperity seemed to
be the cause of his downfall. It became
so marked that his partners called him
into their Office to say that he must either
mend his ways or dispose Of his interests
in the concern. His promises were good,
and al went well for o little season, and
then when the failure was worse than ever
they insisted that he should dispose OF his
interests to them. and with . great sum
VI uOnGy NC VIVIAN w -bAA AeksS ~
had gone from bad to worse until not long
ago they found him floating in the river,
for be had taken. his own hfe. The story
10 sad in the extreme, but the saddest por.
ton of Il 10 found in the fact that there 10
an old man to-day going. about the streets
Of the city mourning for his son. He
scarcely lifts his eyes from the ground as
he walks. Sometimes you behold him
with the tears rolling down his cheeks: de
has compassion. And it IL q fact that one
never sins. breaking even the least OF
Gods commandments, that the heart OF
the great and loving Father does not yearn
over him and long for his return.
w.
WHAT DID HE DO?
We all know this story 80 thoroughly
well that it would seem almost unneces.
sary to emphasize things the father did
when the meeting between himself and his
SON occurred, but for the sake of the story
let me say:
that he did not wait until the boys gar:
ments had been changed, or the signs Of
his wanderings removed. There would
have been NO grace in this. But clad IN a.!
drew him close against his heart, and gave
Qlm TIC klSb WulCn wa VIZ oa6H 49,
plcte reconciliation. This is what Jesus
Christ waits to give to every wandering
soul. The old hymn says, MY God u
reconcilcd," and this is the teaching OF the
Scriptures. It Is not necessary that i
should work myself up into o fever OF ex.
element, nor weep and wall in the depths
Of my despair, but it il necessary only that
/ should receive what God offers me In
Jesus CHRIST. The first step in the Chris
tian hfe Is IN acceptance OF that which
comes from above.
Second, I have always imagined that
VIXEN the father started out from the house
must have noticed him. and possibly they
ran after him. When the father saw the
condition Of the son ! can hear him as he
turned to the approaching servants to say,
run, bring the best robe and put it on
him" and It 10 q beautiful thing to me to
know that when they brought the robe tho
father wrapped it round about him, thus
covering over all the signs of his wander.
ing. This 10 what God does for me and
for you. The moment we believe. the
robe of Christ's righteousness is placed
about us. and God looks upon rs as with.
out spot or blemish, for We are ut once &C
cepted in the beloved.
Third, he put the ring on his hand. The
ring Is always the emblem for complete
ness. And this was a beautiful illustration
Of the fact that the fathers love was per
feet, and that his love had not been at.
fected by the wanderings of the boy. This
il certainly true OF God, and ! know no
better figure to give q thought OF His love
thar that of the ring.
For the love Of God Is broader than the
measure Of mans mind,
And the heart OF the Eternal 10 most
wonderfully kind"
Fourth, he put shoes on his feet. I can
see the poor boy as he hobbies on to meet
his father. his feet bleeding at every step.
for the shoes were worn and he walked
with difficulty, but when he was well shod
with shoes from the kings house i can see
him taking the hand of the old father and
running back to his home. One OF the
commonest excuses presented by men for
not yielding to Christ il the fear that they
may not hold out. but to me it IS comfort.
ing to know that the moment we are saved
He puts shoes on our feet. and that we are
shod with the preparation Of the gospel OF
peace.
"AND THEY KILLED FOR HIN THE
FATTED CALF"
I can sec the old father as he runs from
home to home exclaiming, Come and re.
joice with me, for my boy wal dead and
is alive again. He was lost and Is found"
and they begin to be merry. One can never
have the fatted calf killed for him but
once. but one Of the delightful things about
the Christian life is that we may repeated