But I should like to draw another picture, another scene--that young
man going away from his home that we read of in the fifteenth chapter
of Luke; an ungrateful man, an ungrateful wretch as ever one saw. He
could not wait for his inheritance till his father was dead, he wanted
his share at once; and so he said to his father, "Give me the goods
that belong to me," and his good old father gives him the goods, and
away he goes. I can see him now as he starts on his journey, full of
pride, boastful and arrogant, going out to see life, off in grand
style to some foreign country--say, going down to London. How many
have come down to London, that being the far country to them,
squandering all their money. Yes, he was a popular man as long as he
had money. His friends last as long as his money lasts; a very popular
young man in London, "hail-fellow-well-met" greets him everywhere. He
always paid the liquor bill and cigars. Yes, he had plenty of friends
in London. What grand folly! But when his money was gone, where were
his friends? Oh, you that serve the devil, you have a hard master!
Well, when the prodigal's money was all gone, of course they laughed
at him, and called him a fool; and so he was. What a blind, misguided
young man he was! Just see what he lost. He lost his father's home,
his table and food, and testimony, and every comfort, and lost his
work, except what he got down there while feeding those swine. He was
in an unlawful business. And that's just what