paid to his services ; he rehearsed with envious triumph and malicious exaggeration the misconduct of the Prodigal ; and disdained to acknowledge him as a brother, whom his father had received and entertained as a son. How strongly does this exhibit the disposition and conduct of modern Pharisees ! It affords them pain rather than pleasure to hear of the conversion of notorious sinners. When urged to embrace the salvation offered in the Gospel, they deny that they are in danger of perish- ing, or that they have ever merited the wrath of God : when told that their own righteousness can never justify them before God, they complain that their works are undervalued, and that all inducement to perform them is taken away. The recital of a pe- nitent's joy fills them with envious rage and malignant jealousy : they take occasion from his former misconduct to represent his change as mere hypocrisy ; and, instead of regarding him with brotherly affection, they pour contempt upon him as a weak deluded enthusiast6.]
2. His unwillingness to participate in the happiness provided for him —
[The invitations given to him by his father were rejected with disdain. As the feast was not made in honour of him, he could find no pleasure in partaking of it. Thus it is with Pharisees in every age. When we invite them to come to the feast provided in the Gospel, they put us off with excuses. However rich the feast, or sublime the joy, they have no appe- tite for it, no desire after it. If we were to tell them that their own good works should be the objects of admiration and applause, they would be delighted with the idea, and eagerly embrace the honour offered them : but when they find that all the praise is to be given " to God and to the Lamb," they have no ear for such music, no taste for such employment.]
Having seen the disposition of the elder brother, let us notice, II. The conduct of the father as contrasted with it —
Nothing can be more odious than the character we have seen ; or more amiable than that which we are going to contemplate. Behold,
1. His forbearance—
[How justly might the father have closed the conference
on the first refusal, and given orders for the final exclusion of
this insolent complainant! But, as he had borne with the
Prodigal in his departure, so now he bears with the pride
e With what bitter contempt- and sarcastic virulence, will they sometimes exclaim, That is one of your saints !
1546.3 THE prodigal's elder brother. 551
and obstinacy of his envious brother. And how long has he exercised his patience towards us ! Times without number has he entreated us to accept of mercy ; yet his invitations have, in many instances, excited nothing but disgust: still however, with much long-suffering, he continues to strive with us by his word and Spirit.]
2. His condescension —
[He did not send a servant, but went out himself to entreat his son ; and, instead of controverting, as he might well have done, the statement of his son, he argued with him on his own principles1. He affectionately reminded him, that if no such feast had been made for him, there had not been any thing withheld from him that he had desired : that the favour shewn to the Prodigal did not proceed from any undue par- tiality, but from the peculiar circumstances of his return; and that nothing would be more gratifying to him, than to have both his sons partakers of the same happiness. He shewed him further, that there was a meetness and propriety in the joy manifested on that occasion ; and that he, as a " brother," ought to join in it with his whole heart. Such is the con- descension which we also have experienced at God's hands. How has he argued with us to overcome our reluctance, and laboured to convince us, when he might justly have left us to our own obstinate resolves !]