The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-01-14

the Pharisees and Scrihes murmured,
saying. This man receiveth sinners
md eatetiI with them" II was TO re-
Duke this murmurinG. by setting fortns +
In contrast, the seeking love OF 6od'
which goes forth to pubicans and Sun
ners, that Jesus spake the parallels OF ?
the lost sheep, the lost coin. ana the
lost man, or the prodigal son, In tact'
he draws portrait Of the murmuring
Pharisees In the story OF the eider'
brother. AS Mr.. Moody said. thern
are still many of him. for he finds sue
cessors In all formal religiOnists' VINO
have no sympathy with Gods JOY over
the recovery OF the lost. iis hl sli
First of all, such men find no JOY IN
the service they themselves Ofter Cod
When the prOdigal came home. the IA
,ther called on those about him 70
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, ne heard music ana
dancing. And he called one OF the
servants, and asked what these things
meant" wv. IS. 26). Such merrtment
was foreign to his spirit, And so II ID
\ always with formal religlOnists, fo7
the joy of the Lord Ia not theirs. John
4 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 dread
full storm. He was disturbed at the
outlook. and was amazed to hear
company of supplemented MOravian
Christians singing calmly and joyous
iy 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, hut went TO n servant.
A life of true prayer is impossible to
the formal religionist. He says pray
ers, but this is not the same as pray
ing. The prayers Of the Pharlsees
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 a prayer hook untn
after he had come Into the experience
.. Of a true child of God. How different
10 such restraint from -the boldness
; 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 a gospel for the Phariseesi God
. loves the formal reiigionist quite as
much as the prodigal. And II ne only
. knew It. the formal rellgionist needs
!, the compassion and grace Of God quite
! as much as does the prndgal.
|. For. see the spirit exhibited in the
\ sons complaint. that the father had
: never given him kid That he might
{ !, make merry with his friends" Evi
), IDENTIFY his springs Of JOY were not IN
! his father. but In his friends And
: verify. the succpssors of fiIe eidel
= brother would not he happy even II
= heaven. They would NOT find theI
joy there with the Father and weuls
\, not respond when the Great Shepheri
: said: -Reiolce with me: for I has'
found the sheep which vas lost"
= = But did not the father say. "Soa
|. thou art ever with me. and all that
have Is thine r. Yes hut he refers onl.
= TO earthly things; the living he ha'
" divided. True, It II better not b
). squander our substance Of body an
= mind and possessions. In ripfous ~
y Ing, as DID the prodigai. Bur II d trus
= also. mat while a correct iife Il bette
: than an Irregular one. u win not {
itself secure heaven.
!. The best robe was Ersciousiy LAT
:. on the repenfant prodiTsf's shoulder
y The elder brother never wore IL an
!. never win. until he recognizes q
. dizziness cf his raesi
= 49, - 49,