The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-01
Sunday-schoo1.
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS.

THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS.
August IL, Luke XIV. 1892.
GOLDEN TEXT
Return unto me, and will return unto you. saith
the Lord."-Mal. iii. T.
DAILY HOME READINGS.
Nuke XIV. 1892. Th.-Luke xix. 49,
luxe VII $3.50 Elsa. i. IA, 1920.
W.-Luke XIV. 10. S.-Ephes H. H.
Sun.-Psam H.
One of the most precious portions of Scripture
is the parable of the Prodgal Son. 1t is reve-
lation of the love and compassion of God. 1t is
a heart-reachng display of the wrong and folly
OF sin; and sad picture of the fruits of sim 1t
is a winning display of the return of the sinner
to the home and heart of his heavenly Father
We have,
I. The Nature of Sin. VS.. II-I3. The younger
son represents the wanderer from God not the
reckless young only, but every sinful heart
The elder son represents first the pharisees and
scribes, the professedly and outwardly religious
OF that day. They were not openly unbeeving
and disobedient but in spirit they not in
harmony with the heart of God. They were self
righteous and had no love for other men, no spirit
OF forgiveness and pity, any desire to help
and save. The younger boy is heartless in his
demands of his father. He desired to have his
own way and be independent of his father 1t
is the very essence of sin. 1t defes the fathers
lures the natural enmity of his human heart; the
self-will and ungrateful disobedence which are
the very heart of all sin The soul of is at
enmity with God, and defes his law and seeks to
be independent and away from God. The father.
who in little sense, represents God, is filled with
yearning love for the boy. He grants his de-
mand. He will give him his liberty and his por-
ton that he may try the world for himself. Sin
is not from God, but from the heart of man. and
God consents that man may by experience learn
f1a f@11, II
mot many days after" that his son went way into
"a far country" "The far country is the land
away from God the world of sin and unbelief
"For 10, they that far from thee shall perish"
q. The Fruits of Sin. VS.. 1916 First, the
wandering boy found the merry life he had wish
ed. He found "fun" There was "riotous liv-
ing" No appetite denied restrained. lie
sought and found all the pleasure the far country
could afford. There were days and nights when
to "eat drink and be merry" was all of life Then
came the want the famine the degradation, the
disappointment and disgust, the loneliness and
misery. This is the choice that every who
wanders from God makes. This is the hunger
and debasement and solitude and slavery of sins.
At last "No gave unto him." he is cast out
even by his feowmen.
8. The Remedy for Sin. VS.. I7-24. How plainly
and willingly it is set forth. Then the beginning
to think, where salvation begins. There is the
Coming to himself" He had been beside him
self" Unnaturally, nsanely fool. Now that
has returned, he makes a resolution, the
will acts naturally and rightly "I will arise
and go" He with confession, "I have
snned." 1t is the only reasonable, just safe
way, and the only acceptable way to "He
arose and came" There was action we'll as
resolution"
How gracious and beautiful is the display of his
fathers Lowell "A great way off he him"
The sinner never goes so far that his Father does
not see him. He waits and watches for the
turning wanderer. Gle ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him" That is God, the God Of the
Bible and the Gospel. And there is no bounty,
however costly and honorable He will not glad