The New York herald., 1874-08-24
THE ELM PLACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
DR.. Porteous On the Glory OF God and
the Development of Christianity.

DR.. Porteous On the Glory OF God and
the Development of Christianity.
Yesterday q large congregation awaited the
eloquent ministration OF the Rev. George D. Por-
teous at the Elm place church, Brooklyn. The
present building is unfortunately unequal to the
requirements OF the many anxious seekers for
admission. Accordingly the trustees have deter
mined to enlarge the building SO that it will be
able to contain, at least, 1000 worshppers. The
service in this church is curtailed and modified
in accordance with the recent canons
OF the Church OF England, and DR.. Porteous
intends, it is understood, TO avail himself OF
the Iull liberty OF his privileges Church Of Eng
land clergyman The choir Is in thorough order
and fully up to the requirements OF Episcopal
chanting and anthem singing, and IN every way,
Tor recently formed choir, very excellent in tone
and voice. The service yesterday was conducted
by DR.. Porteous and he also preached, taking his
text from l. Corinthians, x, 31-"Whatsoever you
do, do all for the glory OF Cod" Christianity
is not a theory or speculation, or abstract
system Of reasoning; nor is IL a discursive
piece OF intellectual network. 1t is life and
a process-a development Of character and an
incarnation OF moral principle. 1t was designed
to captivate and inspire the heart, and thence,
through 1t, to hold in allegiance the intellect.
primarily II meant TO be the Inspiration NE and
the senses. In other words, IL Is an outcome OF
and response to the intuitlons, emotions and
movements oil the soul Consequently 1t embraces
In its action and guidance the whole OF man s III
teinal and active being. 1t OverOOks nothing;
nothing escapes its notice; the least with the
greatest things come under its cOgnZance and Its
correction. IL deals with man in all his 0utgongs,
and processes to regulate his most material inter
ests and actions as well as his highest and suprem
est. 1t has been a prevailing misconception of
the junction oil Christianity to conceive OF 1t as
relating to one-sded and arbitrary aspect Of
man. Many have supposed, and 90 still suppose,
that 1t concerns tsell with mans spiritual nature
only, whereas IN truth 1t relates itself absolutely
to man In his twofold character and capacity-that
is as to his spiritual and material Obligations and
duties to law and Deity. 1t meets him in the
sphere OF the flesh and the plane OF the spiritual,
and makes the lle OF duty as sacred and divlne IN
awards, "Well done, good and faithful servant"
to him who in making the lowest work OF life
reflects thereby the goodness and the glory OF God
In This view there are no such things as sacred
and secular works, all are orderly sublime and OF
God. The making OF pin Is as sacred as the COM
pounding OF pill: digging Tor gold Is as honor
able as handling 1t IN the mint, and ploughing Is
as sacred as PRAYER The dignity OF labor IS ac-
craft, headcraft and neartcraft are to US what We
are 70 them. Every duty that Ia made desirable
and every desire made dutiiul Is to the glory Of
God. The common life OF man was meant to show
the common glory of God and uncommon life has
never succeeded The common sunlight, the COM
mon beauty OF newers and lustre OF stars and COM
mon friendship OF men are what keeps the worlds
heart warm ana admring. God himself does moth.
Ing very grand and nothing very little; He is very
even 10 His works and wonders he would show
us by His elaboration in the minutest things OF
lie how much lie cares for the common things
the cell OF the plant being quite as important as
the pulsati0ns OF a planet, and the quivering SEN
sations OF nv equal the mighty thrObs or q
Jupiter or Saturn. Thus the God who cares for ex-
actltude, order and rhy thin in the Inferior things
OF the material world looketh for and hOnOrcth the
least obedience, the humblest service of man IN
the WORK OF this weary world, anu he is great,
honored and ennobed. whatever his task or station
may be. who works with single eye and does all
he does to the glory OF God.