The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-07
The prasllral son.

(selected for The Advertiser.l
 T will arise. and go to my father. "-- nke xv. IS.
 ad drank of the cup of sinful pleas- ures. and now there was only left the bitter and deadly dregs.
 1t is ever thus the world treats its slaves. You will remember how the
 ruel Duke of Ava starved his pris-
 ners to death. after he had promised Is) spare their lives. "I promised you your lives" said he. T did not prom
 by yGs s sromsss 80 tSs Ss shs snnsF cs what Is called life. but he pays the ? :nalty by starving his soul to death. Sooner or later sin and disobedience. whether towards our earthly, or Heavenly Father, brings want. misery. d.sgrace and despair.
 In days of olj the Persians, after a victory, would take Q slave and make him king for three days. He was cad in purple and fine linen, and his C tefui days were over, he was stripped Q his royal robes and offered as sac lf.fice to mirth and folly. Is 1t not so Inow2 We may enjoy the pleasures of s,n for a season; 1t may seem sweet t1 us to be our own masters, and have our own way. but then comes the end. And like the Persian mock king. we ITlust pay the penalty, and be left strip lpSQ ana nake0.
 The first step in the repentance of the prodigal--when he saw his life in 1-s real colors. When we sin de- lberately we blind ourselves. and 1t may bs until too late. May God in mercy ooen our eyes to see ourselves as we
 The prodigaI saw the rags and huslxs, and the misery to which sin had brought him. but only after "he came t1 himself" He learnt that he who treatment of a son is compelled to be tae bondservant of e foreign Inagter; he who would not. be ruled by God, IS compelled to serve the Devil. he who is sent into the field among hire lngs: he who would not dwell with his brother and equals is compelled to be tae companion of brutes; he who would not feed on the bread of angels, begs il his hunger for the huskS of the
 The prodigal discovered. when 'he came to himself" that he was starv- jag. He had tried to feed on worldly selfish pleasures. but did not satisfy. content his soul by living like a beast. God only can satisfy the longings of an immortal soul. Thou hast made
 us for Thyself, O Lord and our heart
 The sins of the prodigal brought him down to feed swine, and even to desire to eat their food To sin ever drags down from all that is high and noble. to all that is low and degraded. Those who feast on the food of the sinfulness are gradually transformed into some thing lower than a beast.
 Now notice what the Yprodlgal did. He made up his mind and acted at once. He did not try to join himself country" or to see forgetfulness in some other sin. There was only one thing for him to do. and he did that. Wayward, motherless, sinful. dis. Iobedient outcast as he had been, still he was a son. and had 8 father. T will arise and go unto my father."
 It was love Tor that father and his name which led the prodigal back. It and misery. He might have sought other employment if he still desired to remain in that ''far country" But the life he had been leading was hateful to him, his heart yearned towards his father and his old home. God was e1eaking to him, and he was now ready to obey the call.
 Has God never thus spoken to your Look into your life now--today-if it lis what is ought to be. what 1t might yourself this question: ''What am l doing with my life, this life which God has given me? Am I wasting 1t in merely worldly ldly,s pleasures Die worldly
 Dear friend. if you are living only for this world; only to earn money; to Ieat. and drink and indulge the lust of the flesh; only to follow your own lprOdigal dwelling among swine. while lyou might be Gods children living in your own Fathers house!
 May God show you your true self. land enable you to say from your heart. T will arise and go to my Father"