The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-08-13


chapter in answer
to the Pharisees and scribes who
murmured and said, This man re-.
ceiveth sinners and eateth with
them" Yes, he did and he does;
that Is our eLcouragement and our
hope. Let us use the story by way
Of application.
Rejection.
Nothing the father had was good
enough for the younger son. The ia
theirs will was too strict, his ways
too serious, his home too solemn. This
Is not life-I will not abide here. but
will use my personal liberty and
be a man. What a weakling is he
who cannot endure or enjoy the will
or him whose chief concern is about
the welfare OF his son. God pity the
man who spurns his fathers love,
turns his back upon home and goes
into the far country He may 20
only around the corner, but away from
the fathers love and care is indeed
the far country. Knowing the end OF
that man, II he persists In his wilful
waywardness and wickedness, 1t is
easy to write his epltaph: He went
out, and II was night" and for such
an one there is the blackness of dark.
ness forever. Beware of the first will
ful rejection of your father, and the
first step away from home. The
news from the far country may be al.
Turing, but you are on the down-grade.
Reflection.
The fascination OF the far coun.
try faded away upon close contact
with it; the music which charmed
the youth soon turned into discord:
the mirage which lured him from
home disappears and leaves only the
desert; for this prosperous young
man, with many friends while he had
money. but now bankrupt and bereft,
there is not even the shadow OF a
great rock in weary land And
when he had spent all, there arose a
mighty famine in that land: and he
began to be In want. And he would
fain have filled his belly with the
husks that the swine did eat. and no
man gave unto him"
Il perish with hunger" And no
man gave unto him." he was denied
the very husks that the swine did |
eat Could any Jew come to greater
degradation than feeding swine? And
then find no profit, not even support,
IN his service. Does not sin pay?
Is there pleasure in ''life?' May we
not SOW wild oats? Yes, sin pays
but in its own coin: the wages of sin
s death. Whatsoever q man soweth
hat shall he also reap.
Resolution.
Thank God there is way back
lome!
a. In the heart. 81 will arise and
60" Dissatisfied, disappointed, de-
pairing, near to death, perhaps, the
'ision glorious of what he has missed
~ his own wilful rejection now fills
lis mind and stirs his heart. Even
ervants in the fathers house have
more than | have, and perish with
Iunger. These dead sea apples were
'eautiful to the eye but ashes to the
aste. Il will arise and go, and say"
'ut, further, resolution also.
b. In the habit: And he arose and
ame." Resolution of heart is not
Many a prodigal has been
orry for his sinful condition, but
as died amid his sinful surroundings.
'ou may be sorry when wealth and
ealth and hone are gone and still
ie in that far country Il will arise
nd go. and he arose and
ame." That was his salvation from
he human standpoint; and it will be
ours.
Reception.
when he was yet great way off,
Is father saw him" You have never
cen as homesick as the. father has
cen son-sick And now, at last we
ee the wistful look upon the face,
o can hear the welcome loving In
lie voice, we can see the tears in the {
yes, we can feel the very throbbing (
the heart Of God. Dear friend,
lis is not story to be told it is an
Sperience Of the soul to be realized
y every one who comes to God ]
trough faith In Jesus Christ. You l
ay have been wilful, wasteful and t
retched; but God loves you; he {
oos you by the Holy Spirit; he calls {
u in tender tones that sound out {
,ove the din of the far country-"Oh, t
'odigal child. come home.' Come I
wv, and find the reality and the in I
bliss of the fathers well /
me, the kiss, the robe. the ring, the r
oes, the feast. For this my son '
as dead, and is alive again; he was c
st, and is found" t