Parables of the Lost
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he shared his father’s estate, his father had claims upon him as a son.
But he did not feel under any obligation to his generous father, and he
braced his selfish, rebellious spirit with the thought that a portion of
his father’s property belonged to him. He requested his share, when
rightfully he could claim nothing and should have had nothing.
After his selfish heart had received the treasure, of which he was
so undeserving, he went his way at a distance from his father, that
he might even forget that he had a father. He despised restraint and
was fully determined to have pleasure in any way and manner that he
chose. After he had, by his sinful indulgences, spent all that his father
had given him, the land was visited by a famine, and he felt pinching
want. He then began to regret his sinful course of extravagant pleasure,
for he was destitute and needed the means that he had squandered. He
was obliged to come down from his life of sinful indulgence to the
low business of feeding swine.
After he had come as low as he could he thought of the kindness
and love of his father. He then felt the need of a father. He had
brought upon himself his position of friendlessness and want. His own
disobedience and sin had resulted in his separating himself from his
father. He thought of the privileges and bounties that the hired servants
of his father’s house freely enjoyed, while he who had alienated himself
from his father’s house was perishing with hunger. Humiliated through
adversity, he decided to return to his father by humble confession. He
was a beggar, destitute of comfortable or even decent clothing. He was
wretched in consequence of privation and was emaciated with hunger.
While the son was at a distance from his home, his father saw the
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wanderer, and his first thought was of that rebellious son who had left
him years before to follow a course of unrestrained sin. The paternal
feeling was stirred. Notwithstanding all the marks of his degradation
the father discerned his own image. He did not wait for his son to
come all the distance to him, but hastened to meet him. He did not
reproach his son, but with the tenderest pity and compassion, that,
in consequence of his course of sin, he had brought upon himself so
much suffering, the father hastened to give him proofs of his love and
tokens of his forgiveness.
Although his son was emaciated and his countenance plainly indi-
cated the dissolute life he had passed, although he was clothed with
beggar’s rags and his naked feet were soiled with the dust of travel, the