The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-04
Sermon by pr. ttapnnlI.

AT Tug Jews SYNAGOGUE IN ELM STREET.
There was considerable interest among the Jews
OF this city TO hear Or. Rapha who arrived ia this
country few days ago. preach his first sermon.
The prayers of the congregation and members
assembled at Elm street synagogue commenced at
10 O'Clock, yesterday, and were continued for
some hours, with the peculiar solemnities and for
malities Of the people of the Jews. AT the con-
clusion of The services and chauniing Dr. RAJ
phall sscended the pulpit, and addressed the con-
gregation as iolows,--
My FRENps-hmong the many and varied pri-
vilepes we ENJOY, there ~ not one great that
which is gwen us OF hearing the exposition Of
Gods holy law frsm GOd-learing man. He
sees around him hundreds OF those whom God has
brought To woIrhp hum. On every brow he sees
the dignity o human nature stamped. all, Of all
ages and sex, young and old, are sitting here to
hear the instruction which shail give you. II this
il crafty irg 20 the man, how much more is gra-
THY ng 10 the God-iearing man to spread owledgc
around, 10 awaken The feeling of religion, and TO
lead israellee 10 worthip according 10 the laws OF
their fathers.
The exp, Renee Of all ages shows that there is
no power 80 great to work upon the mind, for
good or Tor EVIL, as the power Of the pulpit Life
and death lie en- the torgue OF the preacher; but
whle truth il one and single, error is thousand
Told. The way OF truth ID narrow and one, bat the
ways OF error ale numerous aud open. An awful
penalty awaits him who mlslceds by teaching false
doctrines. This awful responsibility and penalty
iempCrs the delight Of the occupation; bat we
ought not 10 neglect these duties because great
penalty - attached to The wrong performance of
thenl--we should be guided by The wise maxims
Of the ssges OF Israel. (rhe preacher here quoted
them IN the Hebrew hnguagc). | am addressing
q congregation to whom am "A stranger. | know
rot what epit you arc OF, or what mental training
you have had, or how your nlinds vii receive the
truth. know not what feelings To foster or what
To icprove-whht wees TO censure, or what viz
tues to encourage; il is all a chance. In such
situation, n man must pat~his trust IN God for
whom we prepare our hearts To- do our duty aud
only think OF performing n. God Will inspire the
ftchDGss Ot ihe heart; my prayer. therefore, on
this occasion, IL, IN the words OF the psalmist.
"ihat the words OF MY mouth and the meditation
ut my heart may be acceptable IA His sight"n 80
In The words Of the law, which you have heard
read thus day, Is contained the relation OF n very
remarkable event, which Is recorded in the 2li
chapter Of Geness Here you heard how tod
tested Abraham, aud ordered hun to offer M his
son. hts only son, Issac. whom he loved a. n
saCusce. (The preacher here related in full the
history recorded
This holds Distinguished place in our religion:
when we appeal to God tor pardon, We call upon
Him 10 call TO remembrance how Abraham bonnd
his son, and drew forth the knife, and prepared to
say HIM 90 epcrliice. When W. Couiparr this
event with our present habits, u may appear to us
surprising. u any man ~ the present dgy should
tsy that God had commanded him to do such
thing, We should say Of him that he was a ruthless.
PRECIOUS man, and A M idmmn, a brutal man void
o. sense ard humanity. aud we should lock him
up madhouse. What IL n, then, which makes
the dbcitDCe m the act ut Abrahaml Tint is one
question. Another question is, that since after
all Isaac vas not killed, what was the object of
this event. which led g. nothing And again. as
all scripture is given for instruction, repr0or and
eAhoTlsuon, another question -, what is ,.Ie prac
iioal instruction 10 be derived from this EVENT.
How can We apply 1t, so az TO improve our con.
duct, and become, though ut an immense distance,
pous and good descendants Of Abrahaml
IL ~ necessary, IN the solution Of the first quos-
tlon, TO know who Abraham was. IIe. was not
Only religious man, he was also one Of the great
est men that ever lived. IL is about 1000 years
and more ago since he lived and Of all the peope
who lived at,lhat time; he only has remained known
10 US We know hun, his life and actions Mil
lions upon millions have toa,ed down the stream,
OF eges, bat such was HE eminence, that we know
hun and his life, but know nothing Of all the 9TH
ere hnoincr proof OF his eminencc Is, that he has
lmmoftalized those who were connected with h,rn-
There were many and great kings, but the memory