The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-01-13

This story has grown so familiar through
sermon song and story that it makes but
little impression to-day, and the prodigal
sons, jocosely called probable sons" are
grown both more prodigal and more prob.
able.
The modern prodga son says to his
Father: Heavenly Father, give me the
portion OF the good things OF this life which
are my birthright-health, wealth, :ame,
friends, beauty; all that you mean shall
be mine. Then, straig ghtway, scarcely
stopping to value the great fortune that IS
placed in his careless hands, he takes his
way INTO lar 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
all as II they were inexhaustible.
Now, had he been at home, in close
touch with the Father who had first given
him these gifts, they might have been re.
newed, for the Heavenly Fathers wealth
is countless and He loves to do for His
own But suddenly the supply of all his
fortune runs dry. And now, lust as in the
days OF the first Prodigal 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.
lie does not like to feed pigs. He would
not have chosen to engage in a question.
able business when he first came out there
to live. it 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.
turn to his Father. How many prodga,s,
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 a brewery, or work on Sunday, or
carry on some dishonest dealing. for the
citizen IN that lar 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 acknow,-
edgment OF the greatness OF his Father, Is
he willing to return home. Notice that
the Prodlgal Son was not doubtful of his
Fathers reception at any time. but only
asked to be made servant instead of a
son because he felt his entire unworthi.
ness.
And was ever Father like our Father in
heaven? The robe of righteousness He
puts upon the wanderer, signfying a
cleansing from all sin. The ring He puts
upon the finger to signify that he is not
only forgiven, but is 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 ia
the Fathers talk with the elder brother
MY child He says. you are always
with Me. Everything / have is yours" Is
there the least bit of gentle reproach that
the elder brother had not exercised all mis-
g. brother. if he had lived closer , to to M hi,
Fathers heart might have been better un.
derstood and partaken of His deep love
Tor the wandering. SHINING brother Grace
Livingston Hill, in the New York Mail
and Express