The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-02-09
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERmoN g.
Or. OHIO s. BARThOLOW.
Subject: The Limitations of Life.


GLOW. pa tor of the James NJ. T.. Church.
preached sunday on The Limitations
of Life" The text was chosen from
Colossians WIS: "R,m mber my
bonds" Dr Bartholow said:
II is hard To conceive how the glow
ing and cOmpreleusiv atemeIts of
the lrst three charters of Pauls Epis-
tie a the Cor -ians could be rein
'orced. Each sentence is 80 full Of
divine truth. il fairly overhows with
its NhriSuy abCndan 4. Yet with the
words of our text Paul id most posi-
lively ana b utif flll.- reinforce every
other sentence of this intensely spir-
itual epiStle. He did il in that charm
ingly inferental way that added the
warmth of the heart 10 the purely
logical statements of the mind. In writ
ing to the ColoSsianS of ChriSt'S divin-
ity and of the complete and joyous
loyalty every soul should render 10
Him. Paul in the few words of our text
delcately refers to the example found
i'll his own experience. Remember
my bonds" This was an infusion OF
experience TO all the preceding pre-
ceptS that developed an incalculable
force i'm that rnlimited element Of
sympathy which were at once opera
tive.
Paul had no intention of glorifying
himself or his suiferings, neither did
he Sentimentally long for human com
fort. This very brief allusion to him
self i'm our text was but To strengthen
and confirm that feeling which would
eXat and glorify Christ Jesus the Lord.
What Christian i'm ColoSsc could have
read or heard Paurs letter and not
have felt when lie came TO the words.
"Romemher my bonds this man
writes out of iifc's experience and Of
what he knows-nOt like 50 many OF
the religioniSts ana philosophers Of
that time out of his iulacinatons and
dreams.
Yet another Inference is contained in
ont text. 1t is that which emphasizes
the fact of life's limitation. In writ
Ing his advicCS and directions 10 the
COlO>sianS Paul did the very best his
position would allow him to do. He
wished and prayed 10 do more. That
more was TO be with them in person,
10 give them all that he felt was in
personal effort for Christ ana 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
ognitOn and resolution are suggeStively
presented in these words OF the heart.
The fact of limitation ia apparent
everywhere. in everything and every
person. 60 10 the uttermost bound
aries of space--tO the sun and stars.
limitations are there. their boundaries
are fixed that they cannot pass. GRAY
itatlon, chemical affinity and other
agents of law bind them with invisi-
BILE 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 iusuperable barriers.
In persons as we'll 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 10 n
very narrow zone OF physical and
mental activity. That n man Is what
he eats and where he lives is certain
degree manifeStiy true.
The spiritual in man is limited in
all its expression and life by the pres
ence of the carnal. Pauls pathetic
cry: 20. wretched man that | 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 a general
limitation. the bonds that all men in
their investigations and experience
]
/ themselves. Within the general limit
atiOns there are special and personal
/ limitations. Mental endowmcnts, dis
position. health and grace are largely
determinative in establishing the indi-
vidual bonds that cannot he passed.
The nervous p"0StrationS. the brain
fag. the strokes OF apopieXy. the creep
Ing .assitudes that seize 80 many OF our
bright and energetic people are in "A
great majority Of instances but evi-
dences Of failure 10 know or rem mber
the physical and mental limitations
10 which life is conditioned.
Failure 10 record and recognize per
eOnal limitations and 10 be directed by
them causes not only lapse and disas-
ter in our service 10 Christ, but Oft
times the essential breaking Of the
II
toned 10 keep the commandments 10
worship God and reverence His day
by preparing hours in advance for that
most solemn and imperative duty.
Saturday preparation OF body and spir
II was. in the thought of our Puritan
ancestors. essential 10 the real keep
ing Of those commandments that en-
force our duty 10 God They had
fine recognition Of the limitations in
herent in the body. Their preparation
for the Lords day was ''rene mDrance
of bonds" II IS only the fashion in
these progressive days TO ridicule the
religious practices OF these fathers OF
our country. With all OF which ridi-
cule we have no sympathy. continuing
20 believe tfat our zip on God. for
loyalty to Christ and His law they
continue 10 he the most inspiring ana
helpful examples. They certainly shed