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against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.'

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He felt at that moment as if nothing would be too bad for him. All that he had hoped for was the lowest place in his Father's household. He knew that even this would be more than he deserved. What must have been his surprise then, when his Father "said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."

Let us now leave the Prodigal for a moment, and think of the Sinner, as our Lord would have us do.

Here we have indeed a most blessed picture of a Returning Penitent, and of his acceptance. When grace has humbled us, and shown us our sinfulness and our misery, then we feel a desire to return to our Father. We go to Him with fear and trembling, for we feel that we deserve nothing but wrath. We hardly dare to approach Him; and yet we are told

that He is full of mercy. We say to Him, what we have often said before with our lips— but now we say it from our hearts—“ Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.'

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Has this deep, earnest cry ever come from you? Has your heart ever bled from a consciousuess of sin? Have you ever knelt down alone, and poured your trouble into God's ear? Have you ever told Him that your sins grieve you, and that you desire above all things to obtain His forgiveness? Feeling that Jesus has shed His blood for you, have you taken your burden to the throne of grace, and found relief there?

Oh the kindness of our heavenly Father! When we are yet a great way off, He comes forth to meet us. He is ready to forgive us. Words of pardon are on His lips. He brings forth the best robe to cover our nakedness. And are we not told in this very chapter, that "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth"? Our heavenly Father Himself rejoices; for another child is welcomed into His family. Our Saviour rejoices; for "he

sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied." The Angels rejoice; for "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation"?

And shall not we rejoice too, when a soul is brought home to God-when one dead in sins is raised to newness of life-when a lost one is found?

We do not think enough about others. We do not pray for them enough. We are most of us too much shut up within ourselves. Oh for more thought about our brethren who are yet astray! Oh for more thought about the Church of Christ, and those who are being gathered into it! Oh for more concern about those prodigals, who are still in the far country!

Ah, the night is dark, and they are a long way from home. Shall we not stretch out a hand to them, to lead them into the right path? Shall we not whisper to them, "This is the way; walk ye in it "-" Here is the

path of safety; turn not from it: it leads to your Father's House "?

We may do something, each of us. And what an unspeakable blessing to be the means

of leading one-only one-into the right road! Think what it is to share the very joy of heaven, by bringing one sinner to repentance!

But there is another Person in the Parable, to whom our attention is now drawn, who could feel none of this joy. I mean the Elder Son.

When his Younger Brother took his journey into the far country, he appears to have remained at home. And now, amidst all the rejoicing at his Brother's unexpected return, he alone rejoices not. He was in the field at the time, engaged in his daily work. And hearing the sounds of unusual gladness, he asks the cause. And when they tell him what it is, instead of lifting up his heart with thankfulness, a feeling of anger comes over him, and he refuses to take part in the general joy of the household. His Brother is come -his long-lost Brother-but he cares not for him. He has been kindly received: this only stirs up his jealousy. His Father comes out, and entreats him to join the rest; but to no purpose. "Lo, these many years do I serve thee," was his pettish reply, "neither trans

gressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf."

His Father reasons with him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Now, to whom does the close of this Parable refer? Whom does this Elder Bro

ther represent?

Some have thought that God's true and faithful people are here described; for you observe that the Father says, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." This certainly at first sight looks a little like the language of approval. But then, is there not something very sour and churlish in the conduct of the Elder Son-something which is hardly in keeping with the character of a true child of God? Could any one, whose heart was right, have felt as he did towards his

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