St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-07
OUR SPIRITUAL LIMITATIONS.
DIR. Burrell's Sermon Last Night
on What Christians Can Do.

on What Christians Can Do.
At Westminster Presbyterian church
last evening DR.. d. ]. Burrell spoke on
"Our Spiritual Limitations" His text
was 'Canst thou--?" Job XXXyiii., 81,
from which he spoke thus:
A group of men have here been dis
cussing some of the great questions
that concern human destiny and reach
out into the eternal world. Among
them is venerable sheik, once happy
and prosperous, but now reduced to
poverty and brought low by disease.
He has theory as to the divine deal
ings with men, and does not hesitate
to advance it. His friends differ
with him and the controversy
wakes warm. Presently the sky as
sumes strange appearance; a luminous
cloud is seen, involved and of dazzling
brightness; and out of it voice is
heard, ''Who is this that darkeneth
counsel by words without knowledge.
Grid up now thy loins like man; for
will demand of thee, and answer thou
foundations of the world? Declare if
thou hast understanding" Then fol
lows an arraignment of man for his
arrogance: "Canst thou do this? and
canst thou do that?" 1t is the Infinite
against the infinitesimal, Deity against
an atom, the Eternal against an ephem-
era, glory unapproachabIe against the
grOteSqueneSs of human pride. In this
address, as DR.. Parker says, MAN is
effectually put down, snubbed, re-
buked;" and as he retires from the col
loquy it seems as if the laughter of God
and angels followed him.
In this we are reminded of our limita-
tionS. We are fond of speaking OF the
dignity and glory of human nature, but
there is another side to it. Man has in
deed in his brain, as Carlyle says, 1.-The
geometry of heaven" and yet he is a
very little creature when standing be-
side his God. His breath is in his nos
trils, his life is hand-breadth. He
cometh up like a flower, the wind
blOweth over it, and it is gone. His life
is a day surrounded by eternity; his
midst OF infinite space. He is, as Pope
describes him.
San heir of glory. frail child of dust,
Helpless immortal, insect infinite,
A worm, god
First-Consider his limitations as to
apprehension of truth. He knows a
little of the great things of eternity, but
how little? He uses certain great
words which have an infinite Signifi-
canoe, and yet to him are full of mys-
terry and bewilderment. The speaker
at this point took UP some of these COM
prehensive words, such as God, matter,
soul, sin and judgment, and undertook
to show that revelation is necessary if
they are to be understood in any meas
ure. The Bible is such revelation; it
relieves our uncertainty and enables US
to speak with assurance as to their Spir-
itual truths.
Second-Consider mans limitations
in the building of character. If left to
himself his morality is mere theory !;
less than that, dream. What binders
him. To begin with, the record OF a
mislived past is sorely against him.
Furthermore, heShaS no ideal of true
manhood, the world never having seen
man. And still further, if relieved of
his past guilt and directed to perfect
ideal, he still needs helper who shall
lead and uphold and invigorate and IN
Spire and lend hand continually.
These needs are all met in Jesus Christ,
who, for all who believe on Him, for
gives the past, presents Himself as all
eXemplar of perfect manhood and prom
iSeS to be friend that Sticketh closer
than brother.
The man who takes the Bible for his
instruction in truth and Jesus Christ as
his personal friend and savior will find
his limitations growing less and less as
life advances, and in the end he will
realize IN himself the fullest possibiii-
ties. Now are we sons of God, but it
doth not appear what we shall be; but
when Christ shall appear we shall be
like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.