The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-05-01
CHRISTIAN E4DEAVOR.
Topic FOR the week nesinning RIA,

Topie.-What does The parable of the
prodigal son teach us?-LulKe XIV, 11-S2.
It is strange that no playwright has
ever dramatized this pearl of parallels.
1t contains ''plot' CT surprising in
terest, which would be always true in
every age and exceedingly realistic.
1t has four scenes-the departure from
the old home, the fast life in far
country, the sudden fall and poverty
and the joyous return to the fathers
house.
The Saviour, believe, had three les
sons to teach from this parable. These
are embodied in the three prominent
characteristic elder brother, the prod
igal son and the father.
First Lesson.-The story was told
that Christians who are in the Fathers
house might take warning from the
selfishness and jealousy and anger of
the elder brother There is danger
| that, like the elder brother, we are in
the Fathers house simply for what we
| can get out of ii. He showed himself
to be unkind, devoid of sympathy and
charity and intensely selfish. 1t is
| possible that we may act in such a
manner to the hayward men and wom-
en- who are out in the world, far from
| our Heavenly Fathers house. There
is too much of the elder brothers spirit
in the church of today We should
eradicate it.
Second Lesson.-The prodigal himself
| teaches the evil of sin, but the POSSIBLE
| ity of forgiveness ard pardon. This is
shown in six steps.
First Step, Internationally father
with his two sons was living pleasant
| ly in the home. This is a picture of
the ideal relation between God and his
human children - protection on one
side and obedience on the other. Some
evil spirit crept into this younger sons
heart and alienated his affection and
obedience. How frequently it hap
pens that we begin to get cold and in
| different to God and the church, and
this feeling grows until we are alienat-
ed from our Heavenly Father. We
should nip these feelings in the bud.
Second Step, Degeneration. - Evil
thoughts cannot remain in the heart
without producing evil deeds. "He
went into far country" We think we
can get away from God and then be
free to do evil "He spent his sub
stance in riotous living" He gambled
drank, drove fne horses, attended thea
ters aud card parties, played billiards,
treated bis friends and got to the bot
tom of his pocket in 4 short time.
| bf..1 7.,+s II
TO be in want" Sin Is the most expen-
sive thing possible. Everything goes
| virtue, honor, character, even his gay
friends. "There arose a mighty famine
in the land" OF course! Did you ever
know it to fail? So long as you had
| plenty Of morey everybody else had
plenty. Wake up some morning with.
out dollar and try to borrow, ana
you will find money famine.
Fourth Step, Reelection. - Poverty,
want and hunger lend a man to reflect.
Sin is insanity. Reflection restores
sanity He came back to his former
self. Reflection is the first step to re-
pentance.
Fifth Step, Resolution" will arise
and go to my father" The 81 will"
was the taproot of his resolution. His
will had taken him away from home;
now it must bring him back.
Sixth Step, Reconciliation.-The boy
acknowledged his sin and took the
blame on himself His father gladly
received him and forgave him, and a
complete reconciliation was made In
this story hope is held up for all.
Third Lesson.-This parable was told
that we might fasten our eyes upon
the Father and in Him get glimpse
of a loving, tender and compassionate
God. The sweetest, grandest character
Of the parable is the father, and he is
picture of our Heavenly Father
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. cxlx, 50, GO; Ps. Ii, 4; Ps. ciii, 2,
8; Eph. ii, 1; Ps. Gill; 10; Eph V, IA;
Acts ii, 80; Eph. ii, 10.
The PIOdder's Petition.
Lord, let me not be too content
With life in trifiing service spent: