View source for A penitent backslider and a forgiving God! '

----
'''Back to [[Man's religion & God's religion 4]]'''
----
<p>&quot;And while he was still a long distance away, <br />
  his father saw him coming. Filled with love <br />
  and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced <br />
  him, and kissed him.&quot; Luke 15:20<br />
  <br />
  After a child of God has enjoyed something of <br />
  the goodness and mercy of God revealed in the <br />
  face of His dear Son, he may wander from his <br />
  mercies—stray away from these choice gospel <br />
  pastures—and get into a waste howling wilderness, <br />
  where there is neither food nor water—and yet, <br />
  though half starved for poverty, has in himself <br />
  no power to return. <br />
  <br />
  But in due time the Lord seeks out this wandering <br />
  sheep, and the first place he brings him to is the <br />
  mercy seat—confessing his sins and seeking mercy. <br />
  <br />
  O what a meeting! <br />
  <br />
  <strong>A penitent backslider and a forgiving God! </strong><br />
  <br />
  O what a meeting! <br />
  <br />
  <strong>A guilty wretch drowned in tears</strong>—<strong>and a loving <br />
    Father falling upon his neck and kissing him! </strong><br />
  <br />
  O what a meeting for a poor, self-condemned wretch, <br />
  who can never mourn too deeply over his sins, and yet <br />
  finds grace super-abounding over all his abounding <br />
  sins—and the love of God bursting through the cloud, <br />
  like the sun upon an April day—and melting his heart <br />
  into contrition and love!
----
'''Back to [[Man's religion & God's religion 4]]'''