The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-01
THE PULPIT.
An ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON 81
DR.. OHIO +. 5ARTHOlOW.
Subject: The Limitations Of Life.

0ns ~ nv
Subject: The Limitations Of Life.
Brooklyn, N. Y.-Dr. Otho F. Barth-
GLOW, pa3tor Of the James NJ. E. Church,
preached Sunday on 'The Limitations
of Life The text was chosen from
Colossians wis: "Remember my
bonds" DR.. Bartholow said:
1t is hard to conceive how the glow
ing and comprehensiy :.tements OF
the first three chapters Of PauPs Epis-
tie 20 the Cor :ians could be rein
rorced. Each sentence is so full OF
divine truth, it fairly overfoWs with
its lJhrisuy abr~dan :. Yet with the
words of our text Paul id most posi-
lively and >utif all reinforce every
other sentence of this intensely spir-
itual epistle. He did it in that charm
fngly inferential way that added the
warmth of the heart to the purely
logical statements of the mind. In writ
ing to the Colossians Of Christ's divin-
fly and of the complete and joyous
LOYALTY every soul should render to
Him, Paul in the few words Of our text
delicately refers to the example found
dn his own experience. Remember
my bonds" This was an infusion OF
experience to all the preceding pre-
cepts that developed an incahulable
force in that unlimited element OF
sympathy which were at once opera
tive.
Paul had no Intention Of glorifying
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
exait and glorify Christ Jesus the Lord.
What Christian ia 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 50 many OF
the religionists and philosophers OF
that time out Of his imaginat1ons and
dreams.
Yet another inference is contained In
out text. It is that which emphasizes
the fact Of life's limitation. In writ
3 ing his adrices and directions to the
5 sColossians Paul did the very best his
position would allow him to do. He
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 do
he could not do.
The fact of life's limitation, its rec.
ognition and resolution are suggest1vely
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. Grav-
Sitation, chemical affinity and other
agents Of law bind them with invisi-
bile chains to their limits. AS with
these mighty spheres, so with the tin1-
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 an amount Of nervous and muscu-
lar energy which limits all that may
be received or given. The bonds OF
place and heredity bind each man to a
very narrow zone Of physical aRd
m entail activity. That man is what
:he eats and where he lives is certain
degree manifestly true.
The spiritual In man is limited In
all its expression and life by the pres
ence Of the carnal. Paurs pathetic
cry: 20, wretched man that I am;
who shall deliver me from the body Of
this death?" is applicable to all the
children of Adams race. These dis
tinctions are the marks. Of general
Limitation, the bonds that all men In
their investigations and experience
must remember because they are Of
themselves. Within the general limit
ations there are special and personal
Limitations. Mental endowments, dis
position, health and grace are largely
determinative in establishing the indi-
yidual bonds that cannot be passed.
The nervous prostrations, the brain
Tag, the strokes Of apoplexy, the creep
ing ,assitudes that seize so many Of our
bright and energetic people are in a
great majorit- Of instances but evil
dences Of failure to know or remember
the physical and mental limitations
to which life is conditioned.
Failure to record and recognize per-
sonal Hmita tons and to be directed by
them causes not only lapse and disas-
ter In our service to Christ, but Oft
times. the essential breaking Of the
moral :law.. Our fathers were accus-
toned TO Keep the commandments, to
worship God and reverence His day
by preparing hours in advance for that
most s-solemR and imperative duty.
Saturday preparation Of body and spir-
1T 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" It is only the fashion In
these progressive days to ridicule the
nF fo$ ~