The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-05-12
.6oee ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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What abundance, comfort, care,
i there extends to the most abject meni-
al! The yeriest scullion has such su-
/ perabundance that he can pose as 2
benefactor before the tramp. I
Il will!' What battle-royal has
( preceded and made possible those
talismanic words! Fear, shame, pride,
have been met and conquered. II
have sineed' is the correlate of 81
will arise" Confession absolute and
frank, without apology or plea in
| abatement, shall be made. The pen
atty and consequences of apostasy,
| disnheritance, servitude instead of
sonship, shall be assumed without a
/ syllable of complaint.
1t is done. But how different the
sequel from that which the prodigal
anticipated! He is met long before he
can reach the door where he expected
to make his confession and prefer his
modest request. The fathers com
passion, how admirable Kiss of re-
Cancellation, how sweet! The first robe,
richly dyed and embroidered, is cast
about the bare and sunburnt shout
ders. The signet of rank is placed
upon the wan finger. Bare feet, mark
OF servitude, are shod with the sand
ais of free man, Now follows the
! joyous banquet.
The murmuring Pharisees can not
but see themselves protrayed in the
elder son, with his Informed, lima
tured protest, The true Messiah had
come to heal the sick, raise the dead,
find the lost. Will the hale, the un-
strayed, those who do not need His
kindly Offices, begrudge them to their
brothers. whose plight is so pitable
and despera tie? The climax is reached,
the plea unanswerable.
The Teachers Lantern
The primary uses of the Prodigal
Son must not be lost sight of in it's
evangelical and modern applications.
By it Jesus sought to justify His kind
ly and familiar bearing toward publ
cans and sinners, at which the Phari-
sees and scribes were so outraged.
He showed the veriest renegade of
Israel as still the object of Divine com
passion, his restoration possible-a
thing He earnestly sought.
In its universal, gospel application
this pearl of parallels" pictures sin
as areyoltagainst a beneficent Heaven
ly Father, whose law is right nd
just and good.
| Here is hairrowed the freedom of the
will. The son has his own way. He
is not let or hindered, except by the
pleadings of love and its faithful
warnings.
The folly of sin has no more start
ling exemplifcation. True as start
ling; drawn to life! How swift the
"descensus Ayerno!" How soon the
fool and his money are parted! How
irrevocable the last estate! Remedies!
In the mire with swine!
Who shall ever number the sinners
to whom this parable has been the
''open sesame" to a new life? Blessed
be the day in which it was spoken! II
will arisel" Father, l have sinnedr'
The Heavenly Father meets the re-
turning prodigal in the way.
Lostm "Deadr' Here is no minify-
ing of the prodigal's fallen state.
Lost to God; lost to heaven; dead in
trespasses and sins!
The far country is not matter of
geography. Its expressive of estrange
ment. of alienation from God.
The prodigals theology was bad,
though it showed well the strength of
his conjunction. 1t would be i'm
possible for him to ever be his fathers
hired servant. He is son or nothing.
Skinned heaven-high and in thy
sight" Here the penitent is strictly
orthodox. The turpitude of sin con-
sists in this, that it is:done aginst God.
Judah's penitent king knew this
when he cried, "Aginst Thee only,
have | sinned' With this truth
joseph armed himself when he cried,
How can l commit this sin aginst
my God?''
Solomon is the example for all time
of the unsatisfying nature of sin. He
drank every cup of Joy, but hear his
dying protestation of the sensuous
world to satisfy an immortal: "Vani-
ties:all is vanity!'
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