Middletown transcript., 1914-05-02
First Fruit Of Sin.

The father makes equal partition
divided unto them" CV. 12) though
neither son had right to demand a
partition of his estate. At the bot
tom of the sons request was desire
to have his own way-to be independ-
enr of God. He did not go away from
home at once, though his heart was
already in the far country"
|. Into the Far Country, Wv. 1916.
Fun is the first fruit of sin, and that
the son readily found so long as his
money lasted (Heb. 11:25). But the
consequences followed closely on its
trail, for when he had spent all'' he
began to be in want" There are
many attractive things about this
young man, but those qualities were
perverted, they lacked control, they
we're good servants but bad task
masters. 1t is not always physical,
temporal want that comes to the sim
ner, there are deeper and more in
tense longings- want and soul
hunger. These always come to the
soul away from God. Being in want
does not mean that a mans will has
been subdued. Some prodigals In the
most abject temporal need are as
proud as Lucifer, and boast Of their
rebellion. So he "joined himself to
citizen of the country" He did not
belong there-the citizen did. He was
set to the most degrading task in
aginable for a Jew-feeding swine.
Like Lost Sheep.
II. The Home Coming, w. 1924.
The first step was for the son to stop
and really think That is where sal
vation always begins-in thinking He
knew he was lost, e. g., out of adjust
ment, In the wrong place, out Of his
element and like the lost sheep,
ready to die" He saw his condi-
ton, money gone, friends gone, hogs
for companions, no food for his sus
tenance. He saw his value. He was
more important than the servants OF
his fathers home. He saw his faith
er's love, already manifested in what
had been given him and we fain would |
believe that when he left home he |
had the fathers urgent plea to re-
turn. He saw way to escape from |
his present position. All of this after
he came to himself" Before that, |
he was morally insane, |
now he has reasoned, lisa. 1:1S. With (
his reasoning also came the deter
mination to make a full confession. |
Il will say unto him." not alone con
fess his need but the fact that he had
sinned This is the only way for a
sinner to, come to God, Ps. 32:9-5;
[ John 1:9; Luke 18:11-14. He did
not stop with resolving but 'he arose
and came to his father v 20. He ex
pected to apply for a servants posi-
lion, but never had the opportunity
FOR the father saw him "a great way
off" and ran and fell on his neck and
kissed him" Notice the kiss of recon
ciliation was given before he even had
/ chance to confess. In his confes-
sion his first thought is that he had
Iinned against God and then against
lis earthly father. The father had
lot once forgotten him; he ''had com
passion" even though the son was un-
nerciful to himself and to all Of his
owed ones. The father kissed him
before he was washed or otherwise
made presentable. His real need was
to that evidenced by his
ags, hunger, or the ravages Of his
dissipation. When he did make his
onfession wv. 20, 2D, we note no
'eference to the matter Of his be-
oming a servant It is doubtful If
he father gave him an opportunity
o state that part of his resolve. Then
here came forth the best robe" lisa.
1:1O; Phil 3:9 R. W. And ring"
he pledge of his sonship, Eph. 1:13,
4; Gal. 4:6, and shoes also, Eph.
rs. Then there was the fatted calf.
casting and merriment. of which
here was no end. OF his temporal
lessings there was an end, not SO Of
be spiritual blessings of reconcilia-
lon and communion with his father
We see that 1t is the father whose
haraeter is-- emphasized. This is
hrist's great word picture Of the
ather. his father 1t explains. so
ar as it is possible for US, all the
he endured, the compass
lon Of his haart and the resolute.
ct profuse. manner wherein he gave
Imself to those who were most 10