The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-21

The Spirits of SnuI, Jonathan aud David
AnnIyxed by Rev. :. vi. Isnacs.
The orthodox synagogue In Forty-fOurth street,
near Seventh avenue, was much better attended
with wOrshippers yesterday than 1t sometimes Ii.
The portion Of the Scripture read was from FIRST
Samuel xviii, 20, which details the victory OF David
over Goliath, the consequent friendship OF David
and Jonathan Saul's son. and the efforts OF Saul to
take DavId's life. We ALL said Mr.. Isaacs, ad-
mire the character Of job and sympathize with him
in the suf1erings which he bore and which he had
done nothing to merit. But mis- friend Eliphaz de-
clared unto him the secrct-"There Is q spirit in man
and the candle OF the Almighty searche;h is out"
The lesson OF to-day introduces TO us three charac-
tiers possessing three different spirits. Saul mani
tested an evil spirit Jonathan spirit OF friendship
and love- and David spirit OF sanctlfcat0n. Had
Saul possessed . good spirit no harm would have
come to him, and the kingdom would have descended
TO his son; but possessed as he was with an evil
SPIRIT he brought misery TO himself and to every one
around him. This spirit was first manifested to
ward David. II
LuRKED N SAUI's BOSOM,
and he could neither overcome IL nor drive it out.
How terrible It Is 10 have in the human heart
this spirit of reve nge, malevolcnce and hatred
Let us carefully guard against It. David
had done nm no wrong; nevertheless
saul could ind no rest day nor night.
planning and plotting take his lie. The spirit or
envy had CONQUERED him. and with this spirit every
one around hun was made unhappy. AS long no
the enemies OF the LORD anu OF Israeli the holy spris
OF God prospcred him. but as soon as lle orsook the
ways OF the Lord the noy spirit elt MN ana rested
upon David, aud an EVIL spirit entered INTO saul ana
abode with hIm
than hrs son. What beautiful spirit was jODa-
lhan's. There Is none so lar IN history as his Be-
mold what affection he bore toward David The MS
tory tells us that 'the soul OF Jonathan was knit
win the soul OF David, ana Jonathan loved him as
his own soul.n David had seen the evidences oil the
evil spirit IN saul, and with his strnecd instrument
had tired to soone and comfort the unhappy King.
But he refused 10 be comforted. and there was
nothing leIt Tor DAVID Dut 10 uee AWAY W save un
HIS PLACE WAS VACANT AT DINNER,
and when saul asked after MIN and declared thas
he must die, Jonathan replied, Wherefore shall no
be Slam Wnat hath he done ~ The good spirit
within MIN has taught HIM that David should be
King oil Israel. and he did not seek To subvert the
ways OF the Lord. He argued within himself, IL
GoI intends To make hun king why should oppose
IL. and of what avail would my opposition bef I'm
this Jonathan dc0ed his father to save his TREND
and TO gosy Coz; And now ellen might we save
our means and let them die. Let ms look at the
character OF Jonathan and initiate. He had beau
tiiul spirit. -,
rue third character revealed to us vs. David's-thc
spirit OF sancidcafion. In him the Holy SPIRIT
dwelt richly. ana, thus endowed, how subllmcly he
wrote, and with what confidence 'slhough all ma
tons should rise up against me- he declares, TN
tHe name OF the Lord would destroy then.n iona
nan ana David became trIends-and what riends =
not ike the friends we meet III this day, hoshake
our hands,
But HATE Us IN THEIR HEARTS.
Their souls were knit together. aSau and gOna-
than lovely and pleasant In their lives, ana IN
their death the, were not divided But now the
spirit OF selnshacss prevails. On every slue y0u
hear men say they must lake care oil tnains0iveSS.
and they leave their feIowmen 10 perish 1ut ~
we Isolate ourselves IRON the world We suan u~
miserable. When Adam was created WIN 49,.
before him he could not he happy occ'us1 ne 49,
alone. and IL Is lust as now a. u w.ts tnen sae&
| N Is not good FOR man 10 DC alone, ns "au ~V~
| lie with his wife. and SO have we. But tne
\
with us ana are stil and always our best anu Fueos
,rc.,ds TDr women OF Israel have always been tue
! hasi consc.vators OF its truth and peace M
I isaacs men urged she practice N Kindness amt
friendship ny all his congregation towar0 taeir ies
| inx. nengs The price 0i iric'x1shp, said nc. n
| ,ri~nusnip. II you want to trd q tricud you must
| be i friend yourself. In prosperity we eau ma
ni.ntv az them but In adversely oh. hcw hard II Ia
! 10 md one and especially such irseuds IA were
Jonaiban ana GavM But God IA sucd q friendN
\ whmsc afection we may always obtain and alwayA
\ cherish by doing good and kcelsing Hts command
meuts. - -. -
then offered to young man who had iuso been con
1 irned, alter which Mr.. lsAhcs offered u prayer IN
coasouaace with tae yeua<Ss waica Y, hal made