Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-05-19
Sunday School Lesson and Yovns People. Topic...
Comments by William T. Ellis.


s''ANA t'>
but often they lead home. Anon the
swine the young man came to himself.
Previously he had been beside himself.
Sin is an alterations. perfect sanity
would save us from SHINING. God II
vitation to men to come to him is really
an invitation to come to ourselves.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
The sound mar thinks homing
thoughts. When he begins to see clear
ly he begins to look towards home. The
gall OF bitterness To many a registering
rake is that the simple joys of n home
are no longer for him. The best life in
the plan of providence is the home
life.
The prodigal came to himself: there
was repentance. This was ollowed by
resolution. Il will rise II go to my
father Too many prodigals never
pass the first stage. They sit still in
the mud. bemoaining their fate. a
chief topic of conversation in every
aimhouse. prison or tramp's lodging
house is what might have BEEN the
proof of manhood in this hungry swine
herd was that he had the courage to
get up and go home. First he saw
himself. Then he saw his fathers
house and what he might have been.
l~}ravely facing the consequences he
determined TO stitie his pride and go
home. Better he IL servant in the
fathers house than starve out in the
world. For in the far country" real
friendship and mutual h~elpfulness are
rare indeed. Boon companions for the
prosperous are there in plenty: 4
friends for the needy are few.
AN HONEST CONFESSION.
Humility is really honorable. a tru
confession of wrong is the best proof of
right intentions for the future. More
over. confession is one of the ~gateways
to peace. The Prodigal went home more
of n man than he left. for he had the
courage to say. Father. have
sinned." What a contrast in the Two
pictures. This was not the debonair
youth who had set out so iauntily.
The tattered figure who YEARLY and
with palpitating heart ~journeyed back
to the old homestead had no greater
boon To ask than that he might be as
one of his fathers hired servants. The
young man was learning to rate himself
ut his true value. II zone of us who
reach that position "a be very proud.
THE FATHERS WELCOME.
The world could spare most pictures
from its galleries before this one OF the
father's \ welcome to the PrOdigai
What weary months and years of wait
ing and yearning are portrayed in the
simple words while he was yet afal
off his father saw him." That is the
father heart. He knew h a some Gay
his boy would come back. and coine he
early or come he late. the fathers vel
come would await him. There are MANY
homes in our land where the LAM
never goes out by night, lest the prodi
gal should return and find the house il
darkness.
We could understand why the Prodi
gal should hasten at t&e sight of home
but the narrative has it that it wa.
the father who ran II fell on Thu
boys neck and kissed him over ant
over again. 1t is all a type of TIL
waiting, seeking, forgiving, lavish low,
of God. This is what every one find
who turns again home to the Fathe
above. There has been q lead inVerte'
which can sound the depths of the deep
est ocean, but there is no measur
which can fathom the depths of divin
love.
The penitent Prodigal sought Il loy
/. place. He confessed to his father tina
> he had sinned and was no more worth
to b. called a SON. On the Ion
l Journey home he had onned over
full and careful confession but tn
fathers love CAV him no chance t
finish it. Quickly the father called t
! the servants for the robe. ring an
shoes. signs of sonship. and for a feas
of rejoicing. For this my son was dea
I tllu Is tlINc, Ht NaS iost ihi IL ioeiiNi,
/. The joy in that home was like the jo
in heaven over a sinner that repentetl
A SULkiNG BROTHER.
There was one difference. In heave
a there are no selfish. big brothers
spoil the rejoicing. This first-born so
IA type of the narrow and censorio,
=" Pharisees of all ages. was angry ~
J. jealous because OF his brothers T.
" ;urn. and would not &C into the feas
II He had the soul of Il mouse. and it WI
e altogether selfish. What cared he fl
II his brothers redemption? His ov
- pride meant more to him. Pity I!
" father and brother who had TO live
the same house with such a mario
y nagging, s~elf-centered creature. T.
continued patience and kindness of Il
J. father toward the elder brother is
r great a proof of his love as was j
forgiveness of the Prodigal.