Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-05
WHAT DID HE DO?

We all know this story so thoroughly
we. that it void sccn almost nnneceS,,
sarv to emphasize things the father dld
when the meeting between himself and his
son occurred, but for the sake OF the story
let me say
First, ''hc kissed him. You will notice
that he did not wait until the boy gar,
mcnts had been changed. or the signs OF
his wanderngs removed. There would
have been no grace in this. But cad in all
his rags he threw his arms about hlm ana
drew him close AGAINST his heart, and gave
him the kiss which was the sign OF com
pete reconciliation This Is what Jesus
Christ waits to give to every WanderlnS
soul. The Old hymn says, My God Is
reconcied," and this is the teaching OF the
Scriptures. 1t is not necessary that
should work myself M into fever OF eN-
element, nor weep and wall in the depths
of NV DESPAIR, bat 1t is necessary on'y that
| should receive what God offers me III
Jesus Ch.St. The first step IN the InriI'
tan life is an acceptance OF that WMch
comes from above.
We had in Philadelphia young man be-
LONGING to one of the better families, So
called, who by his wayward actions DIS
graced his father and finally broke ms
heart. After a little he lett his nome
went to Baltimore, from there 70 Wash
tcrmined to return. He was ashamed TO
meet the members OF his family, but he
knew that if he made pecuIlar sound at
the door at the midnight hour there was
one who would hear and understand, ana
when he stood before that door 1t was
swung open and without word OF re-
proach his mother bade him welcome. lhe
next morning he did not come down IRON
his room, the second morning he was
Iu+ thn third morning
as he descended the stairway his brother,
A uhvsician. met him and said. "Edward,
mother is dying" She had been suddenly
stricken down and was anxious to see nm.
He made his way into her room. knelt be-
side her bed and sobbed out, "On, mother,
| beseech you, forgive me- and with her
last departing strength she drew close to
him, placed her lips close to his ear and
said, NV dear boy would have forgive,
Won long ago if vou had only accepted it,"
This is a picture of God. With love that
is infinite, and pity beyond description,
He waits to save every one who VIII Dut
simply receive His gift of life.
Second | have always imagined that
when the father started out from the house
running to meet his boy, that the servants
must have noticed MIN, and possibly they
ran after him. When the father saw the
condition of the son j can hear him as he
IuTneu W lhc oPP.. o"N"'A-S 49, -
"Run, bring the best robe and put 1t on
him" and Il is a beautiful thing to me to
know that when they brought the robe the
father wrapped it round about him, thus
covering over all the signs of his wander
ing. This is 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 us as with
out spot or blemish. for we are at once ac-
cepted in the beloved.
I remember that when Jonathan was
dead and David wanted to do something
for some one that belonged to him. the
onlv one he could find upon whom he
might lavish his affection was poor, little,
lame Mephbosheth. He, was lame on both
his feet. YOU will remember (his nurse had
| dropped him as she was fleeing away from
| the enemy, but when David found him he
placed him at the kings table and in such
a positlon that his lameness was hidden,
and if you had been on the opposite side
| from him YOU never would have known
| that he had mark of deformity about
| him. This is what God does for every
| poof. wandering, lost one that comes to
! Him. "I, even |, am He that blotteth out
| oil thy transgressions, and | Will remem'
| her them against You no more forever.
| 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 Of.