The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-28

retreat of the woods. "Ah," said Henry Ward Beecher, father is at last learn ing to love nature!' He stepped up to the side of the old man and said: "Fa ther, how do you like the picture? What do you like about 1t most?" "WeH, Hen Iy." said the old man. q was studying that picture to see whether the artist had aimed that gun right. Yes I think that hunter will hit the rabbit. l think he will. I think he will" "Ah, fla ther," said Henry Ward. "can you not see anything more in that picture than a cruel man shedding the blood of an in- nocent, playful rabbltY''
 No, Henry Ward Beechers mind and Lyman Beecher's mind were east in diff ferent molds. They both had their linn itations. What one could do in a mental way the other could not do though both of those brains belonged to the master minds of the vast century. Now. as we all have our physical Limitations. is it preposterously unjust for HIS to complain because we also have our spiritual lifni- tations7 If the only way to cross the Atlantic or Pacific is in a steamship or a sailing craft. is 1t not absurd for us to complain because we have to sail over the great sea of eternity in a gospel life boat?
 If the United States government com rels us to obey certain social laws, en- acted upon the statute books by the dic- tates of it's own national legislators. is 1t unjust for God to declare that when we surrender your hearts to him we should come to him in his way and not in ours2 If we have our mental limitations and only in a feeble and incomplete way can grasp the infinite thought of God are we not foolish in setting up our selves as judges and critics of his meth- ods? Ought we not rather accept his
 .Iaf his rule? That is the way to true free dom When we accept the truth that he has revealed to us and give ourselves to his guidance, we learn by experience that the truth makes us free. The finite mind yields to the infinite and grows into it's true development Therefore shall we not to day yield our minds and hearts to the supremacy of Gods will, whose ''thoughts are not our thoughts and whose ways are not our ways"
 Limitations of Freedom.
 True freedom always has it's lmita- tions. The Christian life, too, has it's rightful limitations. Christ said: 'I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me" There Is only one way to God. one door, one true life. But after we have once entered through that open door then we are Tree. Aye, We may become transeendenty and eternally free. Is not my text right when it says. "In Christ the truth shall make you free?' The freedom he gives Is the freedom from sin, the freedom from punishment. but that freedom like all others, can be ob- tained only by submitting 10 Christ's rule. In one way alone can We gain that freedom, and that is by the way of the cross In his service is endless joy and pleasures forever more.
 My brother, my sister, are you ready to let the truth make you free? In ante- bellum days there was a beautiful scene enacted in one of the southern slave mar kets young black girl stood upon the auction block and was being sold to the highest bidder. Rough men were trying 10 buy her for evil purposes. but in that group of bystanders was Chris tian gentleman, holding by the hand his own young daughter. The young girls heart went out for the sufferipgs of her black sister. and she persuaded her fa- ther to purchase the slave. Higher and higher went the price, but at last the Christian gentleman bought the young slave. When the black girl was handed