While he is thus talking and going along, he sees his father in the tent door. “Oh,” he says, “there is my father now!” Then he stops right short in the road and looks down upon the ground, and is of a good mind to turn back and run away. But while he is hesitating, his father comes running and falls right on his neck and kisses him. And when he feels his old father’s arms embracing him, his lips on his cheeks, and his tears on his neck,--oh, that is the worst of all. Then his heart is like to break with sorrow. He did not expect such treatment as this. If his father had only reproached him and said, “You vile, wicked boy, is this what you have come to?” he could bear that better. But this kindness and love,--it quite breaks his heart. Then as soon as he can find voice for tears, he slips out of his father’s arms and falls down on his knees and says: “’Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ Don’t call me son; it breaks my heart. Make me thy servant, thy slave. Thou didst give me a goodly fortune which I never earned a dollar of. I have spent it all in folly, wasted thy substance, and disgraced thy name in foreign lands wherever I have been. I come here in wretchedness and rags to disgrace thee still more among the neighbors that know thee and thy goodness. Now, Father, let me be thy servant and serve thee, that I may earn thee something to atone for spending thy property and to show that I am really sorry.” But the father will hear nothing of all this, and while he is speaking, cuts him short, saying to the servants who stand wondering, “Bring forth the best robe; take off his rags; wash his sores; put a ring on his hands, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
Thus it is with the returning and repentant sinner. When he is far from God and is first drawn by the Spirit and assured by revelations of His mercy, he with considerable courage begins to seek and pray. But as he comes nearer and the light from the Excellent Glory grows stronger, and he sees more of his sins, he begins to doubt and to falter. But when God sees him thus afar off, sees a little love in his heart, He comes to meet him. He puts the robe of Christ upon him and gives to him the signet ring.