tion of God Himself, Whom, as He is the Supreme Good—Supreme Power, Wisdom, and Goodness—man should never have dared to offend. Not only because it is prudent, for it is an evil choice for a man to dispute with Almightiness, and with the Supreme Judge Who has to judge him; nor simply because of justice and fitness, for it is not to be tolerated that a mere nothing, a little dust, a creature, should offend his Creator; a servant, his Lord; the benefited, the Benefactor; the son, the Father.
The second motive is, the great obligation of the sinner to return at once to his Father's house; seeing that the conversion of the son, and his return to the house, honours the Father and gladdens all the household, and the neighbours, and the Angels of Heaven.
For as the son, at first, by sinning, offended and vexed the Father, so by returning, with bitter tears for his offence, and with full purpose of will to obey Him henceforth in all His commands and desires, he honours and rejoices his Father, and so touches His heart and moves Him to pity, that He is not content to wait for him longingly, but runs towards him, falls on his neck, kisses him, and clothes him with His grace, and His other gifts.
The third motive is, self-interest; for every sinner has to consider that if he turn not in
