which is not of this character. Action is the very life of ''repentance unto salvation." Feelings^ and tears, and re- morse, and wishes, and resolutions, are all useless, until they are accompanied by action and a change of life. In fact they are worse than useless. Insensibly they sear the conscience and harden the heart.
We see, fifthly, in this parable, the penitent man received readily y pardoned freely ^ and completely accepted with ,0od. Our Lord shows us this, in this part of the younger son's history, in the most touching manner. We read that "When he was yet a long way oflF, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants. Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry ; for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry."
More deeply affecting words than these, perhaps, were never written. To comment on them seems almost need- less. It is like gilding refined gold, and painting the lily. They show us in great broad letters the infinite love of the Lord Jesus Christ towards sinners. They teach how infinitely willing He is to receive all who come to Him, and how complete, and full, and immediate is the pardon which He is ready to bestow. " By Him all that beUeve are justified from all things." — " He is plenteous in mercy." (Acts xiii. 39. Psalm Ixxxvi. 5.)
Let this boundless mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be