Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-01
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:: SUNDAY SERMON :
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\ A Scholarly Disco ovrss By r
D Dr.. Ohio Bartholow.
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Brooklyn, N. Y.-Dr. Otho f. Barth-
GLOW, pastor of the James NJ. d. Church,
preached Sunday on "The Limitations
Of Life" The text was chosen from
Colossians wis: "RtmNmber my
bonds" DR.. Bartholow said:
1t is hard to conceive how the glow
ing and comprehensiv atements OF
the first three chapters of Pauls Epis-
tie 20 the Cole clans could be rein
forced. Each sentence is so full of
divine truth, 1t fairly overfows with
its Chris,iy abundant .. Yet with the
words Of our text Paul i'd most posi-
lively and b -,utiflll.' reinforce every
other sentence of this intensely spir-
itual epistle. He did it in that charm
ingly inferental way that added the
warmth of the heart to the purely
logical statements Of the mind. In writ
ing to- the Colossians of Christs divin-
ity and Of the complete and joyous
loyalty every soul should render to
Him, Paul in the few words of our text
dellcately refers to the example found
in his own experience. Remember
my bonds" This was an infusion OF
experience to all the preceding pre-
cepts that developed an incalculable
force in that unlimited element OF
sympathy which were at once opera
tive.
Paul had no intention Of clarifying
himself or his sufferings, neither did
he sentimentally long for human COM
fort This very brief allusion to him.
self In our text was but to strengthen
and confirm that feeling which would
exalt and glorify Christ Jesus the Lord.
What Christian in Colosse could have
read or heard Paurs letter and not
have felt when he came to the words,
Remember my bonds" this man
writes out of life's experience and of
what he knows-not like so many OF
the religiOnists and philosophers OF
that time out of his imaginatiOns and
dreams.
Yet another inference Is contained In
out text. 1t Is that which emphasizes
the fact of life's limitation. In writ
ing his advices and directions to the
Colossians Paul did the very best his
position would allow him to do. HC
wished and prayed to do more. That
more was to be with them in person.
to give them all that he felt was In
personal effort for Christ and His
kingdom. Over against this wish
this desire. this prayer. was his physi'
cal imprisonment-a limitation. Pau,
was chained The things he would dc
he could not do.
The fact Of lifes limitation, Its rec
ognition and resolution are suggestively
presented In these words Of the heart
The fact of limitation Is apparent
everywhere. in everything and every
person. Go to the uttermost bound
aries of space-to the sun and stars
limitations are there, their boundaries
are fixed that they cannot pass. GRAY
itatioD, chemical affinity and other
agents of law bind them with invisi
BILE chains to their limits. AS with
these mighty spheres, so with the TIM
est atom; the plane of activity and ex
preston is fixed. The reign OF law
marks insuperable barriers.
In persons as well as in things the
fact of limitation is strikingly mani
fest. The body in which we live is
clearly confined in bonds. Each body
has all amount Of nervous and muscu
lar energy which limits all that ma!
be received or given. The bonds ol
place and heredity bind each man TO a
very narrow zone of physical ant
mental activity. That a man is what
he eats and where he lives is a certain
degree manfestly true.
The spiritual in man is limited il
all its expression and life by the pres
ence of the carnal. Paurs pathetic
cry: 80, wretched man that am
who shall deliver me from the body oi
this death?' is applicable to all the
children of Adams race. These dis
tnctiOns are the marks of a genera
limitation, the bonds that all men il
their investigations and experience
must remember because they are OF
themselves. Within the general limit
atiOns there are special and persona
limitations. Mental endowments. dis
position, health and grace are largely
determinative in establishing the indi
vidual bonds that cannot be passed.
The nervous prostrations, the brail
fag, the strokes of apoplexy, the creep
ing lassitudes that seize so many OF oul
bright and energetic people are in i
great majority of instances but evi
dences of failure to know or remember
the physical and mental limitation!
| to which life is conditioned.
Failure to record and recognize per
sonal limitations and to be directed b!
them causes not only lapse and disas
ter in our service to Christ, but oft
times the essential breaking Of thu
moral law. Our fathers Were accuS
| toned TO keep the commandments, t.
worship God and reverence His da!
by preparing hours in advance for tina
most solemn and imperative duty
| Saturday preparation of body and spir
it was. in the thought of our Puritan
ancestors, essential to the real keep
| ing of those commandments that en-
force our duty to God. They had
| fine recognition of the limitations in
herent in the body. Their preparation
for the Lords day was remembrance,
of bonds" 1t Is only the fashion il
| these progressive days to rldcule th'
religious practices of these fathers o
our country. With all of which ridi
cule we have no sympathy, continuin,
| to believe that our g"ip on God. fo
loyalty to Christ and His law the.
continue to be the most inspiring ant
helpful examples. They certainly shet
helpful light concerning the meeting
of limitations in the keeping of thos
commandments that refer to God ant
! His day.
They made religion life and fount
delight in 1t, largely because they re
| membered their limitations. They re
fused to rob God by allowing th
world and its activities to so rush II
upon them during six days that ther
was nothing for the Sabbath but physi
cal weariness and dullness. In ye
another relation it Is imperative tina
we remember our own and others lin
tations. In relation to others w
should be quick to ask Are we un
| derstood and do we understand?
Dn1;ou;,>o f,,1Ix- fhot ryarv man /