The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-10
"Leavfnx Heme.~

Selected for The AdYertiser.)
 Not many days after the younger son gathered all together and took ks journey into fsr country. and there wasted. his substance with riotous ltv- | Ing" St. Luke xv. l3.
 The first downward step in the prod igal is taken when he grows tired of his fathers homes and his fathers com. pany. It is the same tn, the case ofthe CT. and the sinner against our Father in 1 Heaven. In the one case the son Is t,1sa taa 3 tgpai1eRff pst,ief bs sf sisl al ner wants his own way instead of Gods mean notlHns to him.. In crossing the great sea of ice in in Switzerland the traveller comes to a place called HMauvafs Pas"-the dan gerous step, It Is a narrow path hard .S r along the side of the mountain. Above it is a wall of rock, and hundred feet below lies the frozen sea with It's traveller should slip on that, narrow path he is dashed to pieces on that cruel sea of ice.
 one of us comes to "Mauvais Pas"-a dangerous bit of road. Frequently we come to 1t in youth. when the Fever sasa Es Suis %ass' sody ssGH home for great public school; the young man passing. from the little village life to the rush and roar and temptation of a 1 mothers care and counsel to her place of business and the companionship of ether girisIeafh one then ensSgnteIrs Csrtn;eIS Hs1so the soul. iA'% Tie fah from Fight to wrong. l from purity to sin. always kills some after Shining as before. He may re- I pent and be forgiven, but he carries the scar to the day of his death:
 l But on that "Mauvais Pas" there is a l strong rope fixed. and those holding to | 1t are safe. We have like protection I along the hard and perilous path of as revealed in the Bible Is our safe | guard. As long as we hold to that we cannot fall: young men & and maid, maid. and you, my oder 1riepas thef l alluring temptation, "hold that fast that thou hast, that no man take thy
 The prodigal came to this dangerous | path but he let go--nay. rather. he cut the rope. He deliberately cut himself off from his fathers house and counsel, and he fell! His one desire was to get away as far as possible from that kind and loving father.
 He determined to go away from all cred all together and took his journey into far country" Is not this the case with many? Do we not see 1t over and over again in the wilful sin try away from God!
 Notice that the father of the prodl- did not fSTse hs Hsayeny fIn tS reTs Tatbsr has given us a free will. We can sin if we so desire: And if we love dark dark in that darkness. God will not keep us in Ills family if we deliberately choose to go outside. We can go into i the far country IT we preter that to 1 SfaVinR a home
 The lost sheep in the parable was lost through weakness, or the want of accident; but the prodigal son was lost by his own deliberate act. God raises | no miraculous barrier to stop those who sin with malicious, intentional wick
 The prodigal goes Unto far coun- try" that is to say. a life of sin; where G9d has no place in ,t all ais witS thought b,. fathers blessing, to seek his fortune in some distant land, is at home In heart parted S by many o tbe %eaTy @an We loves God. though far from all church privileges, Is still with his Father. and surrounded by His care, Not so the Shadows of the cathedral towers, and In sight of home: yet If love be dead | In his heart he is In "a Tar country, rar, far from his Fathers house and
 He wasted his substance in riotous living" He used the gifts of his fath- CT for mere selfish ends. God our Fath: CT has given us powers. faculties and talent-these form our substance Health. strength. beauty, cleverness wisdom-these are His gifts. And they must be used in Ills service and to Ills g'ory. Every selfish man Is prodi-
 Every selfish. life is the life of 6 pr1digal---a wasted. pltiful life-wast- ing the good gifts of God upon his owr had he loses, for The wastes his sub stance Tn rlotous living" And pres entity when he has spent all, there arises a famine, and he begins to be in want. and remorse devours him whlct Is none the less bitter. that he has VII fully brought 1t all upon himself
 70 Israel. thou hast destroyed thy self. but in Me Is thy help" Thus while the prod gal has forsaken and forgot ten God, Gods love stll hovers near ready to forgive. rescue and welcome