of themselves in such a state, they are really " dead," and " lost."]
But the Prodigal was not gone beyond recovery, as is evident from,
II. His return —
During his departure he had been as a person desti- tute of reason. At last however, "coming to himself" he thought of his father's house.
The various steps of his return are worthy of notice — [He first reflected on the folly and madness of his former ways, and on the incomparably happier state of those who lived under his father's roof, and whom perhaps he once despised for submitting to such restraints. He then resolved that he would return to his father, and implore his forgiveness : having formed the purpose, he instantly arose to carry it into execu- tion, and set off, destitute as he was, to obtain, if possible, the lowest office among his father's domestics.]
These exactly describe the steps of a sinner's re- turn to God —
[He first begins to see how madly and wickedly he has acted. He feels that he has reduced himself to a wretched and perishing condition. He considers how happy are those once despised people, who enjoy the favour of his heavenly Father, and how happy he himself should be, if he might but obtain the meanest place in his family. With these views he determines to abase himself as a vile, self-ruined creature. There are no terms so humiliating, but he finds them suited to his case. He is rather fearful of not humbling himself sufficiently, than of aggravating his sin too much. He resolves that he will go to a throne of grace and ask for mercy ; nor will he wait for any more convenient season, lest he should perish before the hoped-for season arrive. He is ashamed indeed to go in so mean and destitute a condition ; but he despairs of ever going in any other way. He therefore breaks through all the engagements he has made with sin and Satan, and goes, with all his guilt upon him, to his God and Saviour. He now perhaps may be deemed mad by his former com- panions ; but he should rather be considered as now " coming to himself"]
The effect of the Prodigal's repentance appears in,
III. His reception —
His father, it seems, was wishfully looking out for him ; and, on his first appearance, ran to testify his good-will towards him —