sorrow-stricken, but now accepted, Brother? And can any true Christian grudge the favour shown towards a returning penitent, and be displeased at God's exercise of mercy?

Certainly not. Surely then we have here, not the spirit of a Christian, but rather the spirit of a boasting, self-righteous, disdainful Pharisee. He exclaims in the pride of his heart, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee; neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment." And then, pointing with contempt to his poor fallen Brother, he rakes up all his past guilt, and scorns the idea of giving him such a welcome-"This thy son, which hath devoured thy living with harlots-thou hast killed for him the fatted calf"!

Does not this remind us of the Pharisee in the Temple, boasting of his good deeds, and thanking God that he was not as other men, or even as that poor penitent Publican by his side? The two pictures seem to describe the very same person.

And then, in our Parable, the Father takes his Elder Son on his own showing-"True, my son, your conduct has been outwardly correct. As far as outward service goes, you

always have been near me and with me; and all the privileges of my family have been yours. Surely you have nothing to complain of, but ought rather heartily to take part in our joy."

It is clear then to my own mind that our Lord must have referred to the Pharisees in this part of the Parable. And oh let us beware of the hard, contemptuous spirit shown by this Elder Brother. Watch against it. Learn to rejoice in another's welfare. Take an interest in the salvation of your fellow-men. Be not extreme to mark what they have done amiss; but rather be disposed to throw a cloak over their failings, and be thankful if they show the least desire to return to their Father's house.

I have now set the whole Parable before you. It is full of instruction, and full of encouragement. It gives us a most blessed view of God as our Father, and shows how ready He is to gather us under the shelter of His love.

We are all like the Prodigal, inasmuch as we have all wandered and strayed from the

ways of God.

Are we like him in his recovery -in his return? Have we experienced the joy of forgiveness? Have we "tasted that the Lord is gracious"?

Oh how wondrous is that love! How overflowing is that mercy! We may look upon the sinner's case as hopeless. He himself may fear that he has gone too far to be restored-that God's feelings towards him are feelings of anger—that He is ready to meet him with the sword of vengeance. But "God is love." "He retaineth not his anger for ever; but he delighteth in mercy. He still yearns over His wandering child with a Father's pity. "Is Ephraim my dear son? Since I spake against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.”

no;

And have we not reason-all of us, even though we may have found forgivenesshave we not reason to use again and again the language of this penitent son? We are for ever grieving our heavenly Father; and I believe the holier we are, the more we shall feel the greatness of our sin against

Him, and our daily, hourly need of forgiveness. Our Church has done well then to place the Prodigal's confession at the very beginning of our Public Service; as if to teach us that we have need to confess our sins, and to seek for pardon, every time that we approach God.

The joy of the accepted Prodigal was great, and such too is the joy of the forgiven sinner. But there is a joy even greater than his joynamely that which the established Believer feels. His peace flows on like a calm, placid river. His mind is stayed upon God. He feels now that his Father loves him, and his delight is to do His will. But he looks for still greater happiness-still purer joy—in his Father's Home above.

240

THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEPFOLD.

JOHN X. 1-9.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers but the sheep did not hear them. I