Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-05
1.-THE PR0DIGAL'S FATHEK'
Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr.. J. Wilbur
Chapman.
An Uplifting Talk on This Famsus Biblical
Story-how 1t Reveals One part
Of Gods Nnture.

New York CIrY.-The following sermon
entitled "The ProdigaPs Father" is one of
a series prepared for the press by the dis
tingushed evangelist, the Rev. DR.. }. VII.
bur Chapman. 1t was preached from the
text: But when he was yet a great, way
compassion and ran and kissed
him and said to his servants,
Bring forth the best robe and put it on
him, and put ring on his hand and shoes
on his feet, and bring hither the fatted
calf and kill it." Luke XIV: 20-23.
OF making many sermons on the prodigal
son there seems to have been no end.
Yet | was in the ministry fifteen years be.
fore | preached from any part of the para
bic. There may be many reasons why, as
rule, we turn away from it. 1t may be
that the picture is too realistic.
was standing in the prison chapel at
Joliet, Illinois. when request was made
that | should conduct a service for the con
victs. just as | was leaving the building
the officer said to me, by the way, if you
should come do not preach upon any part
of the prodigal. We have had twenty-four
ministers here by actual count, and every
one of them gave us the prodigal son, and
these poor fellows have had about as much
prodigal as they can stand"
IL may also be that we have turned away
from it because it is such familiar ground
that it has lost its charm for us. was
sweeping through the magnificent Rocky
Mountain scenery some time ago. and when
we had plunged into the Royal Gorge. and
later swung into the Grand Canon it
seemed to me that scenery more sublime
could not be found in all the world, and if
| had never been impressed before with
the existence Of God | should have cried
out unto Him in the midst of those mount
ain peaks. | noticed that every one in the
car, with one single exception, was gazing
in rapt admiration. This one woman was
intentiy reading book, and to my GER
tain knowledge she did not lift her eyes
once from the printed page while we were
in that wonderful scenery. When we had
swung out into the great table land over
heard her say to friend "This is the thir
teenth time | have crossed the mountains
The first time ] could not keep the tears
from rolling down my cheeks. so imprc sscd
was |. but now she said. 81 know it so
well that ! frequently so through the who'c
range with scarcely glance cast ont of
the window 1t is thus a'as. that we
read Gods word, and that which fills
heaven with wonder. and furnishes the an
gels theme for neverend'ng praise. we
read with Indifference or fail to read at az
And yet my own confession is that never
have had until recently the best of this
story Of the prodiga'
| thought it was to give us 4 Wis. on o. the
younger son, and HS such it would be a
message to backslidcrs. and while this is
one part of the Interpretation il is not BY
any means the best part. Then it occurred
to me the story might have been given MS
that we should take warning from the Sc,
fshncss of the elder brother but | CON
celvcd such a dislike 10" this character
that ! never cared to consider him even for
n moment. But it has in these later davs
become to me one of the sweetest portions
OF all tho New Testament because be- eve
the parable was written that we might fas-
ten our eyes unOn the father of tho rarabc
and in that father get a g'imDSc of God.
Did II ever occur to YOU that in the pic
lures of the fathers Of the Rib'e von wc"e
always given i vision of on" pat of tho
nature of God? Jacob crying out. Me Nc
have hercft OF my childrc": .Io:nnh is not,
Simeon is not, and now Won VII take Pew.
lamin from me, is an illustration OF God
crying out in His treat tcnd"rrCsS over the
lost. David eXc'aImin". "Oh. Ahsa ON, NY
son, my son! wond God | had died 60"
thee is Just hint as to the way God
feels over His lost ones for whom His Son
has really died. And vet better than anv
picture of father as the revelation of
God is the lie of the Son of God from
whose lips we have hca~d these words. "IIr
that hath seen Me hath seen the Nathcr. )"
But putting all these things together, and
in the light of them reading the story of
the prodical our hearts burn within us as
we see God