1062
THE KING’S BUSINESS
ity, and as more prone to punish than to pardon, the preacher’s offense is greater than the painter’s. He may quench a sin ner’s hopes, extinguish the light that is dawning on a darkened soul, and repel a poor prodigal whose steps are turning homeward to his Father’s house. A phy sician who kills the patient he should have cured, such a man is practically the enemy of souls; to use Paul’s words, he destroys him for whom Christ died. To such false and forbidding representa tions of the Father, what a contrast, the beautiful, most touching, affecting, winning portrait which we have here, from one who knows him well—from the hand of His own Son. This picture might kindle hope in the bosom of despair. Some have been afraid to present God in such a gracious light, lest men, taking encouragement to plunge headlong into $ sin, should, like this prodigal, depart from the living God. De part from the living God? Ah, that is not to do! Like lost sheep we have all gone astray—all departed from Him. • But for one person who, abusing the grace of God, takes occasion from this parable to go on in sin, with the intention, when the worse comes to the worst, of returning to the arms - of an indulgent Father, thousands have been saved by it from sinking into despair, and plunging into deeper guilt. In spiring them with hope, it has raised many a poor wretch from the swine-troughs, and brought them home. Followers, of the prodigal, they,have gone in to sit down in the kingdom of heaven—the angels who rejoiced over them now rejoicing with them. In contemplating this picture, see how the father received his son. When he was “yet a great way off,” it is said, his father saw him. How did that happen? I knew a sailor’s widow who had parted with her husband after, some brief, bright days of marriage. He went to sea and never came back; his ship, probably foundering with all her crew, was nevermore heard of. When the time expired for her return, no ship' came. This woman would repair to a rocky headland, and, looking out, watch
every sail on the wide ocean in the hope, as some ever and anon made for the har bor, that each was his—bringing the lost one home. And at night on her lone bed, she used to lie awake, listening to the foot steps of belated travelers, fancying that she recognized his step—but only, as the sound passed her door, to weep over her disappointment; and long after hope had died in the breasts of others, on rocky cliff or lonely bed she waited his coming who never came home. A WATCHFUL FATHER Such love, I can fancy, often led this father’s steps to some rising ground, where, others knowing his purpose but appear ing not to notice "him, he repaired; and, with a heart yearning for his son, turned his eyes in the direction the prodigalwent off, hoping to see him return. One day when on his watch-post, he descries a new object in the distance. He watches it; it moves; it advances; it is not a beast, prowling lion, or hungry wolf. It is a man; it may be' his son. His' heart beats quick. One long, earnest, steadfast gaze, and, joy of joys ; happy hour, often prayed for and come at last, the keen eye of love recog nizes it—it is the prodigal .come back! Painfully, for he was foot-sore and weary; slowly; for he bent under a Toad of guilt; sadly, for the scene around reminded him of departed joys and blighted innocence; his mother mouldering in her grave, and his father with grey hairs he had almost brought down to his; tremblingly, for he -was in doubt of his reception; with head hung down, and slow, halting, hesitating step, the prodigal comes on. Like one agitated by contending emo tions, uncertain how to act, with what measure of indulgence to temper severity, does the father wait his son’s approach ? No. He does not stand on his dignity; nor say, “Let him make the first advances and ask forgiveness.”, His one thought is, “This is my son, my poor son;” his one feeling a gush of love; his only impulse to throw his arms around his child, and clasp him to a bosom that has never ceased to love and hope for his return. As soon,
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