The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-07

"The parable, you see, teaches us the infinite and inexhaustible nature of the
 Good Shepherds sympathy and love.
 But, we must not therefore make the mistake of concluding that He actually prefers those who first wander then re- turn, to those who never left the fold at all While God welcomes the re- turned prodigal with forgiveness and rejoicing, 1t cannot be He regards him with greater favor than the obedient son who never went astray. This Is clearly taught in the parable Of the Prodigal Son. You recall the conduct of the elder brother He naturally re- sents the demonstration of joy over the return of the prodigal. He points out that although he had never trans gressed his fathers command. no to- kens of appreciation had been given him. Nor does the father deny the as- sertions of the elder son, but proceeds to show him how much better off he was than the younger son who had wasted his substance in riotous living | Son, thou art ever with me and all that I have Is thine The advantage | Is on his side and not with him who had | wandered and repented. True. there were manifestations of great joy at his recovery. for he was thought to bt hopelessly lost. But this does not provo | the father looked upon him with the same esteem and affection as he would had he never left home at all. No, II | Is the elder son who has chiefly his fathers favor and possessions. So we | must not suppose. as altogether too
 many do suppose, that repentance is more acceptable to God than faithful obedience. If that be true. then, the
 elder son made a mistake in not going
 with his brother in his evil ways! No, | although the Shepherds heart is filled | with gladness when the lost sheep Is | found Ills greater appreciation Is with l the one that has not transgressed, and his, by far. is the more blessed portion. The parable is not intended to teach | that God prefers repentance to uniform | obedience. True, there is greater ex- pression of joy over the lost sheep when | found than over the ninety and nine which went not astray. But this is not | saying the Shepherd loves the lost sheep more than the rest. If this be true why. the wanderer would actually gain | by his wanderngs and 1t were better | to leave the fold than stay in 1t. What
 we are taught Is that the recovery of the one ministers more to the gladness
 of the owner than the presence of the ninety and nine. and not that he loves the latter less.
 We see this illustrated in the workings of our own natures. Suppose one member of the family, child for
 
 an incurable disease. Why. he seems
 to engross our hearts almost to the ex- clusion of the others. It Is not that we really love him better But our thoughts and feelings. for the time, are more centered in him because of his i sickness. or his helplessness. And this , would close with the occasion. It would be at once transferred to any other child in a similar condition. ( Again. suppose a child seems about tn { be taken from us by death. We be- ! come at once conscious of a passionate : attachment which we do not feel for [ the others enjoying health and strength. And If the child is restored We will re- ; joice more over 1t than over the other children who have not called forth our anguish. It Is not that the one is real ly dearer to us than the others. Our l heart is just as devoted to them. but 1 for a time, there is a concentration of | our affection and anxiety In behalf of the one in greatest need
 The parable of the lost sheep is giv- | en. you remember. by St. Matthew and St Luke. Tn St. Matthew, our Lord, according to the context. teaches the ! solicitude of God for erring members | of the church, which. in a special sense.
 is His flock. Hence we may look upon | the hundred sheep and the one that
 wanders from the fold as the lost sheep with whom God is tenderly and patiently forbearing. He pleads with ! him by His Holy Spirit. He warns him by His providences; He exhorts him in l His Holy Word. The tremendous ne- | cessity of returning to the fold Is con- stantly pressed upon him, unless. in-
 deed, he would be finally lost. Now.