Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-02-08
LIES LIMITATIONS
OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERMON
Rev. DR.. Otho Bartholond Discusses
Things we Can and Things we Can
not Accomplish.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Dr. Otho f. Barth-
GLOW, pa;tor of the James NJ. T.. Church.
preached Sunday on '"rhe Limitations
OF Life" The text was chossn from
Colosslans WIS: Remainder my
bonds" DR.. Bartholow said:
1t is hard to conceive how the glow
ing and comprehensiv sateinents OF
the trst three chapters Of Paul's Epis-
tie % the Cor -ians could be rein
.oreed- Each. sentence. is SO full OF
divine truth, it fairly overf1ows with
Its Ehristiy abr''dan ;. Yet with the
words of our text Paul id n,ast posi-
lively and ,-utif ALL reinforce every
other sentence Of this intensely spir.
itual epistle. He did it ia that charm
ingly inferential way that added the
warmth of the heart to th&, purely
logical statements of the mind. IN writ
Ing to the Colossians OF Christs divin-
1ty and Of the complete aud Joyous
loyalty every soul should render to
Him, Paul in the few words OF our text
delieately 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 incalcula BILE
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 cunl-
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 Paul's letter and not
have felt when he came to the words.
Remember my bonds,' this man
writes out of lifes 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. It 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. 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 limitation. Pau;
was chained. The things he would do
he could not do
The fact Of life's limitation, its rec
ognltlon 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
1fation. chemical affinity and other,
agents Of Law bind them with invisi-
Ole chains to their limits. AS with
these mighty spheres, so with the tint
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
Iact of limitation is strikingly mani
rest The body in which we live is
clearly confined in bonds. Each body
mas an amount Of nervous and muscu-
be received or given. The bonds of
place and heredity bind each man to a
very narrow zone of physical and
mental activity. That a man is what
he eats and where he lives is certain
degree manifestly true.
The spiritual in man is limited in
all it's expression and life by the pres
ence Of the carnaL Paul's pathetic
cry: 20. wretched man that I am;
who shall deliver me from the body of
this death?" is applicab Bile to all the
children Of Adams race. These dis |
flnctions are the marks Of general |
the bonds that all men in |
their Investigations and experience
must remember because they are. Of |
themselves. Within the general limit |
limitations. Mental endowments. dis
position, health and grace are largely /