and emptiness, on Him who is "the Sinner's Friend."

You will observe that nothing is said in the Parable about the way by which the Prodigal was brought to a better mind. Affliction was the principal means: but affliction alone did not produce the change. All that we are told is, that "he came to himself." Are we to gather from this, that the sinner of his own accord sees his folly, and repents ? Certainly not. As well might we expect a blind man to restore himself to sight, or a dead man to give himself life. The Parable does not tell us so-but I should think it likely that the Father did not leave his prodigal child to himself. He probably sent after him many a message-wrote many a touching word to him-and used other means to rouse him from his folly. And so too God follows the Sinner, in his course of sin, speaks to him by His Word, by His Ministers, in a thousand ways. He draws us "with the cords of a man, with the bands of love." His language is, "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel?

Mine heart is turned within me." God does not leave the sinner, until the cup of his iniquity is full. He does not withdraw the checks and workings of His grace, till the heart is hopelessly hardened, and the conscience deadened.

But there was something more than a sense of wretchedness in the case of this Prodigal. There were some better feelings as well. His thoughts now turned to his Father's house. He longed to be once more there. Not that he dared hope for those same rich blessings which he once enjoyed. A place among his Father's servants was all he seemed to look for-"How many hired servants of my Father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Oh that I could have a place among them! Oh that I could fare

as they are faring! them! "

Make me as one of

It is a happy thing for the sinner, when he begins to feel even the slightest longing for a better portion-when he is heartily weary of living a godless life, and pines after a purer happiness than this world can give him. If we have that desire, it is God who has kindled

it in our hearts. Pray that it may never leave us till we have found our happiness in Christ.

There is "bread enough" for all in our Father's house-food for the hungry soul, strength for the weak and weary, comfort for the sorrowful, pardon for the guilty, a welcome for the penitent.

There are many many gathered there-many happy ones already sheltered in those blessed mansions. And yet there is room-room for every single soul that seeks admission.

Yes, my dear Brother or Sister, there is room for you" bread enough, and to spare." Do not live on, as you perhaps have been living, away from God, and from Christ, and from "Return unto the Lord thy God; for

peace.
thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
you words, and turn to the Lord.

Take with

Say unto him, Receive us graciously." "Make me as one of thy hired servants."

I have said that the Prodigal felt uneasiness at his present condition, and longed for something better. But he did not stop there. He formed a resolution in his own mind-a determination to go at once, and cast himself at

his Father's feet-"I will arise, and go to my Father."

This was a noble resolve. For just think how deep he was sunk in profligacy, and how hard it was to get loose from all his sinful entanglements. He had joined himself moreover "to a citizen of that country;" and there was some difficulty in breaking away from his service.

But, in spite of all this, he felt, "I must go. Here I am starving: there, in my Father's house, there is plenty. Here I am miserable: there my broken heart may yet be healed. Here I am perishing: there there is deliverance and safety."

It does indeed require a strong resolution to leave the path of sin. We get wedded to our evil habits. We get so to love our bad ways, that we cannot easily part with them. The world binds us with its twisted cords. Satan holds us in his net, and it is very difficult for us to escape.

For example, we will suppose that a person has been accustomed to indulge in some amusement, which is altogether unsuited to a Christian. It requires no little courage to

say, "That is not the recreation for me. I will turn from it; and never from this day will I indulge in it again." Or, if any one has been in the habit of staying away from God's house, it is no easy matter to turn over a new leaf, and become a regular church-goer. Or, if he has loose and ungodly companions, it is a great trial to say to them, "I see things differently to what I once did. I cannot fall in with your ways now. I must leave you, and seek the companionship of those who fear God."

But this must be done. We must make a strong resolution in our own minds, that, cost what it may, we will forsake sin, and seek our happiness in the Lord. The struggle may be hard. But how great will be our joy, when we can say, "Our soul is escaped as a bird

out of the snare of the fowler: the snare is broken, and we are delivered."

Perhaps you have already made such resolutions. Perhaps you can remember many a determination to which you have come at different times in your life. But they were broken again, and all fell to the ground. Such has been the case with hundreds-ah, with hundreds now in hell!

Q