The grace and love of God are shown out first in seeking, and then in receiving the sinner. In the first two parts of the parable in Luke 15, we have the seeking; in the third, the reception by the father. One great principle runs through them all-it is the joy of God to seek and to receive the sinner. He is acting upon His own character. No doubt it is joy to the sinner to be received, but it is the joy of God to receive him; "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad"-not merely meet that the child should be glad to be in the house. Blessed truth! It is the tune that God has raised, and to which every heart in heaven responds. God Himself strikes the chord; heaven echoes it; and so must every heart down here that is tuned by grace. What discord then must self righteousness produce!