The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-05-26
The PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
Rev. Or. NEHEMIAH eoYNToN.
suhJ.e,: The Meaning Of Christian Service

sohJect Inc meaning OF Shrirhsh Se''e
Brooklyn. y. Y.-A large audience
greeted the Rev. DR. Nehemiah Boyn-
ton. the pastor-elect OF the Clinton Ave
nue. Congregationalist Church. Sunday
morning 10 hear his first sermon IN
his new pulpit. The subject OF the
sermon was: Christian Service The
text was from Mark :4S-44: Whose
ever would become great among you,
shall be your minister; and whosoever
would be first among you, shall be ser
want of all" DR.. Boynton said:
Jesus never questioned the PROPOSE
ton that il was q fine thing 10 be
great He had no small iealousies 10
nurse. But He continually empha-
sized the declaration that il was finer
thing 10 be first and. 10 His thinking,
greatness and prlmacy We're not syn
onymous terms.
In our clumsy English IL is not easy
70 indicate the distinction in the :ext
between the minister" who aspires
10 be great. and the servant of ALL"
who becomes first; il is the difference
between the mere waiter, who serves
With one eye on your need. the other
on your tip, and the bodyguard, who
has committed himself unreservedly 10
your interests and who is happy alike
i'll life or death il only, like the Japan
ese, he can have the honor OF serving
the Emperor.
So Christian service is the first thing
In the world il is greater than the
great thing.
The outstanding characteristic OF our
age has been and is the realization
that the universe is one: il is Gods
world, il is Christs world; that the
spirit is one: il is Gods spirit, il is
Christs spirit: that the Christian ser
vice means nothing less or more than
taking Christs spirit ont 10 Christs
world and installing IT, All that is in
volyed III this mighty conception we
do not yet comprehend. for "the new
age stands. as yet, half built against
the sky" but il is easy enough TO see
that the struggle OF the day in pres
ence OF the mighty and impressive
changes which are transforming mod
ern life is 10 match the growing world
and the widening universe. with q gen
uine. circumferential Christian spirit,
putting the nOblest Christian science
in play "far as the course is found"
Beyond this. il is equally evident that
the supreme challenge 10 the church is
10 accept and 10 appropriate, faithful
ly and fearlessly. all revelations and
revisions. which the many sided truth
of the unity OF Gods universe illu-
mines and installs. for the church will
have lost her mission and her influence
when she is content 10 be q camp fol-
lower trailing along in the rear Of the
advancing legions OF the Lord of Hosts.
The peril OF small conceptions OF the
superiority of Christian service is
many times mCst imminent where His
presence is least suspected A brave
and aspiring spirit will pray most ear
ncstly for deliverance from this pesti-
lence that walketh in darkness and
destruction that wasteth at MONDAY.
Ones spiritual ability is bounded by
his horizon and his service is init
mately related 10 his sight. The soul
which has settled into the comfortable
conceit that the faith has once for all
been delivered 10 the saints. that spirit
ual ministry for today is but repro
duction Of the type and method Of yes
terday, may indeed be contented with
its conclusion. but its ability to min
lister effectively 10 the present day
kingdom of God is shorn OF adequacy.
Little conceptions make little Chris
tians; large conceptions make large
Christians. DR.. Peabody is voicing q
ringing truth when he declares that q
great heresy OF modern Christendom
is in residence in the belief that life
is n ship composed of watertight com
partments, in one OF which we work,
in another study, in another play and
in another worship. The great in
clusion of life, the permeating power
OF the divine spirit. the Wilderness Of
Gods mercy. the depth of His love,
the breadth OF His interest the newt
ableness of His will. the absoluteness
OF His Jaw, these furnish a perspec-
tive for an attentive spirit, in the Wis
ion Of which the meager and petty are
overlooked and the promised won
drous things Of Thy law" CLEAN and
glisten like the flash OF the harbor
light against the blackness Of the
night,
Christian service needs the snap and
stimulus Of the great idea of the unity
of Gods world TO get il in possession
Of its comprehensive chance. so that
while we feel n kindling sympathy
with the wide visioned martyr, pray
open Thou the King OF England's S
eyes il is in order for us 10 pray for
ourselves the heroic petition, Con
slider and hear me, q Lord my God ;
tighten mine eyes"
II. however, the time Of Christian
service is related 10 small conceptions,
the prerogative OF Christian service
Is certainly TO introduce the same 10
great and masterful ones, and 10 teach
IL to find its choicer fellowship rs it
does its mightier Inspirations here.
Pilates question. What is truth Is
pertinent to-day. Is il mere cunning
assembling and formulation Of factsf
There il is cold. inert. useless thing.
Is IT a glowing faith, vital, personal,
obsoute experience? There il is warm
with n divine fire and instinct with n
glowing anticipation.
Henry Drummond marked that day
with red letter when he ceased 10
ignore truth as mere propositlonal wis
dom and began 10 realize IL as per.
ceptive wisdom. He declares that he
had almost finished his college course
before he had any other conception Of
Christ than that He was a theological
conscience in the interests OF the Trim
ity. But the day came when the eyes
OF his understanding were opened, and
he came TO know Christ. rot as ab-
stract but as concrete truth. Not as
related 20 life philOcophically by a
series Of dreary propositions. but as
implanted in bis own life vitality b. n
personal friendship. which deepeBed
with every trial, widened with every
experience and heightened with every