Mr. Moody's Sermon on the Prodigal Son

We have for our subject tonight the Prodigal Son. I want to call your attention to this thought, in opening this subject, that this man was a prodigal before he went into that far-off country. There is a false idea that a man does not become a prodigal until he has spent all his money and has become depraved. There are a great many in this city that are in fashionable society, that are moving in the best society that are prodigals. These are not in a far-off country, but it will not be long before they are come to that. I am going to speak of Him as a modern man; I am going to bring Him down to the present day. I hear a man say, "Of course, that never took place; it was simply to illustrate something that might take place." Never look place? Why, Boston is full of such men. If you could bring them before this assembly, and march them across this building it would he day-break before they could all get out, if they walked six abreast. When the Son of God drew that picture He drew a picture that represented something that took place then, and has been taking place ever since. I cannot help thinking that that father was somewhat to blame. If I was that father and my son wanted me to divide my property while I was alive, I would tell him to earn his money if he wanted to spend it, and I would give mine to the poor. A boy that has such a spirit as this young man had, is setting out wrong in this life. How many young men are setting out the same way, with wrong ideas? How many fathers are making the same mistake? What hundreds of fathers are working hard to accumulate wealth for a child that is going to be their ruin. You look up with pride to a self-made man. I have a thousand times more respect for a rich man's son that comes out of his temptations all right. This man had got a false idea of life. He didn't have any home restraint, he didn't get along well with his brother, so he wants to get away from home and so he asks that his father divide the money, and it is not many days after the money is divided that he sea off. And he goes into a far-off country, that he may get as far away from home and from that loving father as he can.

Away from all his associates

the next thing we hear is that he is living a fast life. And now what a true picture that is. How many men have come into the city from the farm and from country homes They are the sons of wealthy parents. This man, no doubt, when he left home put up at a first-class hotel. He had plenty of money, and he could have all that he wanted. He had plenty of money and nothing to do. He had plenty of friends; friends gathered around him. He didn't go to a cheap theatre, he went to the very beet theatre there was. He went to the finest and most fashionable billiard halls. He didn't go into some back room, it is a sample-room they call it, but he went in the best fitted saloons, and you will find him with the fast young men of the city. Then you find him with the harlots, and it isn't long before he is ruined. It don't take long to ruin a man when he begin to associate with harlots, for "her foot taketh hold upon hell." After this you may look for his ruin very sure and very fast. When once a man gets into this course of life it wont be long before he is stripped of all he has. The young men gathered around him. They liked his company and Continued on the Eighth Page.