The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-05-14

sorting with publicans and sinners.
In response to these criticisms. Jesus
spoke three parallels: the lost sheep
the lost coin, the lost son; each one
presenting a different aspect of the
sinner and of his salvation from sin;
thus, like the combined pictures in
a stereoscope. making the truth stand
out in vivid reality. As the gates
TO the heavenly city are on every
side. SO that it may be entered from
every point Of compass, SO here the
return Of the sinner is presented so
that none may hesitate because he
comes to God in a different way from
others.
Scene l. The Family at Home
" H. "A certain man" A house
holder, the head Of a family, repre-
senting our heavenly Father, with
his beautiful home. not only in heaven,
but in this world as God meant the
world to be. furnished with everything
needful for the training. the enjoy
ment. the comfort, the blessing Of his
children. Had two sons These
represent different characters and
classes OF men. God is the Father
Of all men, for he has created them
In his own image, cares for them. and
loves them as his children; and all
owe him honor. love. and obedience.
There is a sense in which only those
who believe in Jesus and obey God
are his children in the highest and
truest degree from 8: 14-17; John 81:
80, ~. 44). But in another view all
men are children OF God, though wan
dering and defled, and refusing to
act as children.
Stene II. The Wayward SONY.
12. And the younger Of them" A
type Of all sinners. but especially Of
all who have yielded to the tempta-
tions Of youth Father, give me the
portion Of goods" (the same word as
substance" IN Y. 1s, property 'that
falleth to me-" His portion at his
fathers death would be only one-third
since the elder son. as representative
Of the family, received a double share
(Deut. 21. III.
This request, in its application to us
as sinners. is the expression OF mans
desire to be independent Of Gods con-
troll and restraints, and to do as he
pleases. So Adam and Eve in para
disc; Ahab in bis ivory palace: the
Israelltes OF old continually longing at
first for the leeks and onions of Egypt.
and later for the attractions Of idol
airy.
And he divided unto them his liv-
Ing" So God has given unto men
his living. He has given them spiritual
natures made after his own image,
conscience. reason. talents, memory
powers. capacities Of blessings. his
Word. his home, his love, his care, and
worldly blessings beyond measure.
But they were intended to be used at
home, under our Fathers wise guild
anee and laws. With these gifts
Is also the gift Of free will, which
alone makes virtue possible. There
are those who can be saved only by
permitting them to act out their own
viii, and experience for themselves
the bitterness Of breaking Gods com
mandments. and the blessedness OF
keeping them.
Scene Ill., In the Far Country
V. Is. mot many days after This
shadows forth the rapidity ID of ma
tional and CD OF individual degener-
y."-Farrar And took his jour
ney." He left father. home. inno-
cence, love. duty, to be a homeless
wanderer in q bleak, blank world,
breaking his fathers heart. Into
far country" The far country is be-
ing far from God in character, in mo
tives. in feelings, in works. in sym
pathy. Il is estrangement from God,
dislike Of his rule, opposition to his
laws.
He wasted" (scattered like the
chaff in wianowing grain. made il fly
in every direction) his substance
with riotous living" He plunged into
dissipation and drunkenness.
Some have applied this riotous liv-
ing chiefly to wanton and dissipated
sinners. It does apply to them, but It
applies also to all sinners; for they do
with spiritual things what riotous men
do with earthly things. The worldly
life Is always a wasteful life. 1t wastes
body and soul 1t wastes life and
health.
Scene Nv. The Famine in That
Land-Ys. 14-16. IA. "And when he
had spent ALL" His riches few away
on swift wings. and it did not take
long to waste all he had brought from
home. There arose a mighty famine
in that land. So that the prodigal not
only had no money to bug food, but
food itself was so scarce that he could
net obtain it even by begging. ~And
he began to be In want. The soul
has many hungers and thirsts. and
the nobler the soul the more Of these
and the more intense the
hunger And the world, with its
riches and pleasures, can never satisfy
the soul This is sign Of its divine
nature and greatness.
is. And he went and joined him
self" Literally. glued himself to. fas-
tened himself upon; he was. in effect.
a slave TO citizen Of that country g
representing either men hopelessly
corrupt and worldly, or perhaps the
powers of evil He sent him
to feed swine" The most degrading
work q Jew could do
16. "He would fain." He ardently
desired. so hungry was he The busks