The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-03
The Prodiral Son.


This story has grown so familiar through
sermon, song and story that it. makes but
little impression to-day, and the prodigal
sons, loosely called probable sons" are
grown both more prodigal and more prob
able. ~
The modern ,prodigal SON says to his
Father: Heavenly Father, give me the
portion of the good things of this life which
are my birthright,nhealth, wealth, lame,
be mine" Then straightway, scarcely
stopping to value the great fortune that is
placed in his careless hands, he. takes his
way into a far country, place as far from
his Heavenly Father. as it is possible for
him to get, where he cannot even visit
/ Him on Sundays, because the land into
which he has Journeyed with, his birth
right Is. one in which they have no Sab
bath. ~ ~.
1t would seem that he does not know the
limit of his substance, for he wastes it
with lavish hand, never stopping to
think that there may be an end to it.
His health! How he spends it, burning
up his very life tissues in wanton pleasur-
ing, and expecting them to gush forth
fresh the next morning. His fame, his
influence, his friends-he draws upon them
al! as if they were inexhaustible.
Now, had he. been at home, il close
touch with the Father who had first q zen
him these gifts, they might have been ~
is countless and He loves to do for His
own. But suddenly the supply of all his
fortune. runs dry. And now, Just as in the
days of the first Prodigl Son, when this
happens, the next step for him generally
is to "hire himself to a citizen Of that
|: country" that far land away from God.
He does not like to feed pigs. he would
not have chosen to engage in q question
able business when he first came out there
to live. 1t all seemed pleasant then. But
now it seems that he is obliged to accept
this disagreeable, loathsome task. He
does not think that he may, instead, re-
in need of money and offered chance to
do some dirty work, remember that in
stead they NAV even then return to God,
confess their sins and be forgiven?
No, every prodigal thinks he has got to
feed the pigs. He must accept that posi-
tion in brewery, or work on Sunday, or
carry on some dishonest dealing, for the
Citizen" in that far country has him in
his power, and not until he has reached
the depths of humiliation, the. utter emp
tying out of self and the, entire acknowl-
edgment of the greatness of his Father, is
he willing TO. return home Notice that
the Prodigal Son was not doubtful of his
Fathers reception at any time, but only
asked to be made servant instead Of q
son because he felt his entire unworthi-,
ness. 3
And was ever Father like our Father in
heaven? The robe of Righteousness He
puts upon ,s the wanderer, r. sipifying q
cleansing from all sin. The, ring He puts
upon the finger to signify that he is not
only forgiveu, hut iss to carry about with
him sense of his Fathers great love- His
feet are shod, with precious promises that
he may go forward in the way of peace,
and then the fatted calf is killed that not
only may he be forgiven and rejoice and
feel once more his Fathers love, but he
may also be happy in it.and think no more
of his sins, for they are utterly forgiven.
There is a point not to be forgotten in
the Fathers talk with the elder brother.
'My child" He says, you are always
with Me. Everything I have is yours" Is
there the least bit of gentle reproach that
the elder brother had not exercised all mis-
privileges? Is it not possible that the eld-
er brother, if he, had lived closer to his
Fathers heart, might have been better un-
derstood and partaken of His deep love
for the wandering, SHINING brothere- Grace
Livingston Hill, in the New York Mail
and Express. -