The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-21
FIFTH AVENUE COLLEGIATE RE
FORMED CHURCH
DIR. oRnsToE on RATHER SEEK YE THE
KINGDOM OF GOD"

DIR. oRMIsToN ON "RATHER SEEK YE THE
KINGDOM OF GOD"
The Fifth Avenue Collegiate Reformed church.
corner OF Twenty-nintn street and Fifth avenue,
was only fairly attended yesterday morning the
advent OF genial weather doubtless having good
deal TO do with the thinning out OF the congrega-
ton. After the usual preliminary exercises or
singing and prayer Rev. DR.. ormlston, before
commencing his discourse, announced that, con-
trary to the usual custom with most churches,
services would ''be held in this church every Sab
ba.n throughout the enrre summern The subject
OF the sermon was in reality tho paramount Inn
portance OF the welfare OF the SOUL tue text being
taken from the twelfth cnapter OF the Gospel &C
eordiDg TO St Luke, tnirty-drst verse-"But
rather seek ye the Kingdom OF God and all these
things shall DO added unto your DR.. 0rmiston
said that the point Of MS remarks would hinge
upon the one word "rather" In the text.
The whole chapter was a grand sermon, by
one OF the greatest OF all preachers, aud
on a topic or the greatest importance 10 every
immortal soul. In 1t was presented the desirable
tty and indeed, the necessity OF sincerity rather
than hypocrisy OF iiberallty rather than covetous-
ness, and OF the superior importance OF the in
terests or the soul over those OF the body. The
differences between secular and sacred, between
spiritual aud material interests were here clearly
and distinctly defined as well as the difference
ures OF heaven. That botn OF these treasures may
be secured we do not deny. Tne treasures OF the
present lie are
and t is not incompatible with their accumula-
ton mat we may also gather TO our souls spiritual
enrlchment. man may devote his whole life TO
the storing up OF worldly goods or TO the attain
ment OF moral excellence. The accumulation Of
earthly treasures OF any kind Is in mans life a
dominant force. Equally so 1t Is In the other case
a great power, ruling over the souls OF men
and lifting them far above the groVellng
OF the things Invisible we do not
always mean things 10 the future. Love. Love ana ana
they are present with US In this lie, and thank
God for 1t. We speak or these things as between
the heavenly and the earthly. The one tends to
spiritual illumination and elevation the otner
darkens the intellect, deDases the affections and
lowers the man. Tue supremacy oil tue spiritual
Is per ectly clear and tue wants or the soul are
always paramount TO every other interest," All
things winch God has MADE are rlgnt ana gooo "a
air and the fish in the sea-in Short All things That
are above or beneath; out COD made man Ia us
own image and made MIN TO rule. He gave hm
power to rule over ali these things and consii-
tuted MS spiritual nature tae chief force earth.
you NAY ROB IT OF ITS TITLES
you may trampe under foot Its proud preroga-
tlves bat the soul oil man viii still yearn for some-
tning higher than the earth and things earthly.
Now, IL Is the real centre. whether we see II or
not All our greatness is derived from this spiritual
nature and all things converge to IL. Blind As
we may DO not 10 see II, all OF the interests or
the family OF society Of me church ana M
ana love and mercy, intended 1t should De so. II
Is So too In all Institutions ali laws and all agea
cIes. The most important question, therefore,
which 1t Il possible to PROFOUND to any human
agency is, what sort OF a human soul does IL
fashipnf ifthat agency tends TO purify or gl0rlfy
a single soul then IL has It's value accordingly; but
II nc does not then IL Is disgrace TO man ana
dishonor 10 God. What VIII man give IN ex.
cnanRe for his soulf IL seems horrible to think Of
q deliberate bargaining or bartering away or tho
precious nature winch has been purchased by
Christ's blood, but how many, alas overlook, IN
their greed Tor gam their thirst for fame or power
thar the time Is fast ppToaching wnen they must
render 10 God an account Tor the things which are
Go1's. Their whole liTes are Planned and FASH
toned as though they had no higher relations than
those they enjoy at present. DR.. Ormiston con-
cu0ed Dy an impressive appeal 10 his congrega-
tiOn not TO longer neglect the attainment OF that
DIVINE help ana grace which would 50 certainly
insure their souls' eternal sa.Vanon.