Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-01-14

the Phnrlsees and Scrbes murmured,
saying, This man recelveth sinners
ana eateth with them" II was to re-
Duke this murmuring, by setting forth.
IN contrast, the seeking love of God,
which goes forth to publicans and sim
ners, that jesus spake the parallels OF
the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the
lost man, or the prodigal son. In fact,
he draws portrait of the murmuring
Pharisees In the story Of the elder
brother. AS Mr.. Moody said, there
are still many Of him, for he finds sue
cessors in all formal religonlsts, who
have no sympathy with Gods Joy over
the recovery of the lost.
First Of all, such men find no Joy In
the service they heAselves offer God.
When the prodigal came home, the IA
ther called on those about him to
make merry. The parable goes on to
say "Now his elder son was In the
field; and as he came and drew nigh
to the house, he heard music and
dancing. And he called one Of the
servants and asked what these things
meant wv. 25, 28). Such merriment
was foreign to his spirit. And so 1t Is
always with formal rellglonlsts. for
the Joy Of the Lord is not theirs. John
Wesley was such an one even after
being ordained to preach. When on
his way to America as missionary to
the Indians. his ship ran into a dread.
full storm. He was disturbed at the
outlook, and was amazed to hear
company Of Supplemented Moravian
Christians singing calmly and joyous
ly In the midst of the storm. Even
their children Joined In the songs.
Wesley was forced to contrast their
conduct with his own feelings. The
incident was an important factor in
leading him out Of a life of religious
bondage into the liberty of the glory
of the children of God.
Notice, too, the restraint between
this son and his father. When he
would Inquire as to the sounds of
merriment In the house, he did not
ask his father. but went to servant.
A life Of true prayer Is impossible to
the formal religionist. He says pray
ers, but this IL not the same as pray
ing. The prayers of the Pharisees
were full Of vain repetitions for like
the heather they thought they would
be heard for their much speaking. To
refer TO John Wesley again. he never
prayed without prayer book until
after he had come into the experience
of true child Of God. How different
is such restraint from "the holiness
and access with confidence" to which
God invites us.
How beautiful to read: Therefore
came his father out, and entreated
him" ". 2S). II has been well re-
marked that this verse shows there
Is gospel for the Pharisees! God
loves the formal religionist quite as
much ms the prodlgal. And II he only
knew II, the formal religionst needs
the compassion and grace of God quite
as much as does the prodgal.
For. see the spirit exhibited in the
sons complaint, that the father had
never given him n kid that he might
make merry with his friends" Ev,.
IDENTIFY his springs of Joy were not in
his father but In his friends And.
verify, the successors of the elder
brother would not be happy even In
heaven. They would not find their
Joy there with the Father and would
not respond when the Great Shepherd
said: "Rejoice with me; for | have
found the sheep which was lost"
But did not the father say, "Son.
thou art ever with me, and all that
have Is thine?" Yes, but he refers only
to earthly things the Giving" he had
divided. True, It Is better not to
squander our substance of body and
mind and possessions, in riotous liv.
ing. as did the prodigal. But It is true.
also, that while correct life is better
than an irregular one, 1t will not of
itself secure heaven.
The best robe was graclouslv Io,d
on the repentant prodigal's shoulders
The elder brother never wore II. and
never will, until he recognizes the
flthinpSs Of HE rnpef