The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-14

their feed-the locust pods he threw down before them. What humiliation. sorrow, despair are compressed in the i've words--'No man gave unto him!" At last the hypnotic spell of sin is broken. Self-consciousness, self con trol are regained, Memory paints the ancestral home. The flown blessing brfghtens What abundance, comfort. care there extends to the most abject menial! The veriest scuilion has such superabundancc that he can pose as a benefactor before the tramp. "I will!" What a battle-royal has preceded and made possible those talis- I manic words! Fear, shame, pride, have been met and conquered. T have sim ned' is the correlate of T will arise." Confession absolute and frank, with out apology or plea in abatement, shall be made. The penalty and consc- quences of apostasy, dlsinheritance. servitude instead of sonship. shall be piaint.
 It Is done. But how different the se- quei from that which the progidal an- | ticipated! He Is met long before he can reach the door where he expected to make his confession and prefer his modest request. The fathers compas. sion. how admirable! Kiss of recon cfliation. how sweet, The first robe. richly dyed and embi oidered. Is cast | about the bare and sunburnt shoulders. | The signet of rank Is placed upon the wan finger. Bare feet. mark of servi. {. I tude. are shod with the sandals of a | free man.. Now follows the joyous ban l quet.
 | The murmuring Pharisees can not but see themselves portrayed in the | elder son. with his ill-formed ill-ma- tured protest. The true Messiah had I come to heal the sick. raise the dead. find the lost Will the hale, the un- l strayed, those who do not need His
 brothers whose plight Is so pitiable and desperate? The climax Is reached the plea unanswerable.
 l The Teachers Lantern.
 The primary use of the parable of the
 Prodigai Son must not be lost sight of in
 It's evangelical and modern applications. | By 1t Jesus sought to justify His kindly
 and familiar bearing toward publicans and sinners, at which the Pharisees and
 scribes were so outraged. He showed the
 veriest renegade of Israel as still the
 object of Divine compassion. his restora-
 ton possible--a thing He earnestly
 sought
 | e
 pearl of parables" pictures sin as & re.
 volt against a beneficient Heavenly
 Father, whose law is right and just and
 good.
 Here is mirrored the freedom of the
 will. The son has his own way. He it
 not let or hindered, except by the plead
 ngs of love and It's faithful warnings.
 The folly of sin has no more startling
 exempliication. True as startling; drawr
 to lifel How swift the 'descensu' | Avernor' How soon the fool and Si:
 money are parted! How irrevocable thu
 dast estate! Remedies In the mir'
 with swine!
 Who shall ever number the sinners tt
 whom this parable has been the 'oper
 sesame to a new life? Blessed be th' day in which 1t was spoken! 'I vii : ariter' Father. I have slnned!" The } Heavenly Father meets the returning
 prodigal in the way
 l "Lostr Deadl" Here is no minifying ot the prodigal's fallen state. Lost to God , lost to heaven; dead in trespasses ant sins!
 The far country Is not a matter oi | EeOkFdpHys u lb SApfCSsiFS OI eS arrangement, of alienation from God. The prodigars theology was bad though 1t showed we'll the strength oi
 his compunction. It would be impossible sor him to ever be his fathers hired ser . want. He Is son or nothing.
 "Sinned heaven-high and in thy sight , Here the penitent is strictly orthodox. The turpitude of Fin conFists in this. that ] 1t is done against God. Judas peniten king knew this when he cried "Agains
 Thee, Thee only. have I sinned!" Witt , this truth Joseph armed himself wher , he cried. "EIow can I commit this sir ! against my God?"
 Solomon is the example for all tlm'
 of the unsatisfying nature of sin. H,
 drank every cup of joy, but hear hii ] dying protestation of the inadequacy O. the sensuous world to satisfy an i'm !, mortal: Vanity of vanities all Is vanity - =-=--------==-=-