The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-08-14

parallels In this
chapter In answer
to the Pharisees and scribes who
murmured and said. This man re.
ceiyeth sinners and eateth with
them" Yes, he did. and he does:
that Is our encouragement 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
Tiers will was too strict. his ways
too serious. his home too solemn. This
is not life-l will not abide here. but
/ will use my personal liberty and
be man. What weakling is he
who cannot endure or enjoy the will
OF 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 go
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, II Is
easy to write his epitaph: "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 tho down-grade.
Reflection.
The fascination OF the far coun.
try faded away upon close contact
with IL: 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 noS' bankrupt and bereft,
there Is not even the shadow OF a
great rock In a 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 10 greater
degradation than feeding swine7 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 I'm its own coin: the wages OF sin
Is death. Whatsoever a man soweth
that shall he also reap.
Resolution.
Thank God there is a way back
home!
a. In the heart. II will arise and
GO" Dissatisfied, disappointed. de-
spairing, near TO death, perhaps. the
vision glorious Of what he has missed
by his own wilful rejection now Glls
his mind and stirs HIS heart Even
servants in the fathers house have
more than have, and perish with
hunger. These dead sea apples we're
beautiful 10 the eye but ashes 70 the
taste. Il will arise and go. and say"
But, further. resolution also
b. In the habit: And he arose and
came" Resolution OF heart Is net
enough. Many prodigal has been
sorry for his sinful condition. but
has died amid his sinful surroundings.
You may be sorry when wealth and
health and hope are gone and stu
die In that far country. Il will arise
and 20. and he arose and
came" That w.s his salvation from
the human standpoint; and II will be
yours.
Reception.
when he was yet great way OF.
his father saw him" You have never
been as homesick as the father has
been son-sick. And now. at last We
see the Wistful look upon the face,
we can hear the welcome loving In
the voice, We can see the tears In the
eyes. We can feel the very throbbing
Of the heart OF God. Dear friend,
this In not a story 20 be told; II Is an
experience OF the soul 20 be realized
by every one who comes 20 God
through faith ia Jesus Christ. You
may have been vilful wasteful and
wretched. but God loves you; he
woos you by the Holy Spirit: be calls
you In tender tones that sound out
above the din Of The far country-"oh,
prodigal child. come home Come
now. and find the reality and the in.
comparable bliss OF the fathers vel
come. the kiss, the robe. the T1ng. the
shoes, the feast. For this my son
was dead. and is alive again. be was