of his father's happy home, where all had enough and to spare, while he perished with hunger! "I will arise," said he, "and goto my father, and will say unto him. Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. He arose, went to his father, who reccived him with joy, clothed him in the best robe, put a ring on his hand, and made a feast to welcome his return.
Pathetic as this parable is in its literal narrative, it is much more so in its spiritual or religious sense. By the certain man is meant the Lord himself; and his family of two sons are the human race presented under two different aspects. The living which the father divided, consists of all the treasures of his kingdom or house; these are the doctrines and precepts of his Word, by the application of which to the life, happiness and riches in abundance are acquired.
Turn, then, thy thoughts, O my soul! to the conduct of this prodigal, and it will open in thee a mine of intelligence, that shall bless and prove thee to the end. How often, like the younger son, do many of God's family waste, in riotous living, the portion which the Father of mercies has awarded to his children! The truths of His Word, which are the true riches, are given to lead us, by purification, into all that is useful and blessed, and thence to conjunction with God; but if, while possessed of these, we waste the gift in riotous living, we shall remain blind to all that is noble, wise, and good, we shall sink down to ignorance and degradation; and by feeding our own sensuality instead of the gentle affections of innocence, we shall, instead of feeding the Lord's sheep, become feeders of
