- Foreword
- Ellen G. White A Brief Biographical Sketch
- Faith in God
-
- Parental Responsibility
-
-
-
-
-
- Treasure in Heaven
- The Shaking
- God's Proving
- Houses of Worship
-
- Surety for Unbelievers
- Oath Taking
-
- Our Denominational Name
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The Future
-
-
-
-
- The Prayer of David
- Proper Observance of the Sabbath
- Life Insurance
- Health and Religion
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Wiles of Satan
-
- Christian Zeal
- Responsibilities of the Young
-
-
-
-
- Why God Reproves His Own People
-
-
-
- Christian Recreation
-
-
- Unbalanced Minds
- Faithfulness in Home Duties
- Vain Thoughts
- Consideration for the Erring
-
-
-
- The Health Reform
- Danger of Applause
- Labor for the Erring
- Love and Duty
-
-
-
-
-
- The Power of Prayer in Temptation
-
- Worldly Interests and Heavenly Treasures
- The Galling Yoke of Selfishness
- The Parable of the Talents
- Self-Denial and Sacrifice
- The Tithing System
- Co-workers With God
- From the Days of Adam
- A Tenth of the Increase
- No Irksome Burden
- Treasure on Earth
- For Man's Benefit
- Accountability of the Poor
- A Caution to the Wealthy
- Undivided Allegiance
- The Blessing of Benevolence
- Into All the World
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The Efficacy of Christ's Blood
-
-
-
-
- Grafted Into Christ
- A Lesson in Humility
-
-
- Duty of Parents to the College
- College Students
-
-
-
-
-
- Faithful Workers
- Into the Maze of Skepticism
-
-
- Simplicity in Dress
- The Wedding Ring
- Forming Character
The Father's Love
While the son was at a distance from his home, his father saw the wanderer, and his first thought was of that rebellious son who had left him years before to follow a course of unrestrained sin. The paternal feeling was stirred. Notwithstanding all the marks of his degradation the father discerned his own image. He did not wait for his son to come all the distance to him, but hastened to meet him. He did not reproach his son, but with the tenderest pity and compassion, that, in consequence of his course of sin, he had brought upon himself so much suffering, the father hastened to give him proofs of his love and tokens of his forgiveness.1TT 308.1
Although his son was emaciated and his countenance plainly indicated the dissolute life he had passed, although he was clothed with beggar's rags and his naked feet were soiled with the dust of travel, the father's tenderest pity was excited as the son fell prostrate in humility before him. He did not stand back upon his dignity; he was not exacting. He did not array before his son his past course of wrong and sin, to make him feel how low he had sunk. He lifted him up and kissed him. He took the rebellious son to his breast and wrapped his own rich robe about the nearly naked form. He took him to his heart with such warmth, and evinced such pity, that if the son had ever doubted the goodness and love of his father, he could do so no longer. If he had a sense of his sin when he decided to return to his father's house, he had a much deeper sense of his ungrateful course when he was thus received. His heart, before subdued, was now broken because he had grieved that father's love.1TT 308.2
The penitent, trembling son, who had greatly feared that he would be disowned, was unprepared for such a reception. He knew he did not deserve it, and he thus acknowledged his sin in leaving his father: “I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Luke 15:21. He begged only to be accounted as a hired servant. But the father requested his servants to pay him special tokens of respect and to clothe him as if he had ever been his own obedient son.1TT 309.1