The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30
TEMPLE EMANUEL.
The True Object Of Sacrifc;al Ordnarces-The
World Now 0utgrown Them-Radical
Sermon by Rev. rr. Gushein.

The congregation worshipping In this beautiful
Jewish temple are reading In course the ritual ordi-
nanccs OF Sacrifices which Ill the largest part of tho
book of Levltlcus The Rev. Dr.. Guthem. therefore,
yesterday called their attention TO this phase OF intel
lectual culture which belongs to history ana Is now
no longer and never again will be Of any practical
application for divine worship. AS long, however,
as any sacrifices existed and were offered they
the most significant means of worship. They called
for temples and affairs and priests and ordinances
But this mcdc of worship was not confined to
Israel. Sacrifices offered also by the ancients
so that sacrldcal offerings must, therefore, be con-
nected with the
VERY ESSENCE or RELIGION.
Different conceptions OF the nature OF the Deity by
different nations gave rise to various systems OF
sacrifices and numbered the divine worship. The
Hebralc system OF sacrifices was judciOus. simple,
coherent and consistent, and was skilfuly adapted
to tho requirements OF individuals ana nations 1t
appears sngulary simple in contrast with the ritual
Of Eastern nations and the critic is compelled to
assign 1t to an advanced place In the history
Of the world. 1t was, no doubt, adopted
from antiquity. but was modified to the enlightened
people and age to whom and when 1t was ordained.
1t is deeper, purer, more spiritual than any other
ceremonial, and was not unduly expensive in n cat
te-breeding country and for o purely agricultural
people The staple products OF the earth Comprised
the chief characteristic offerings of the people as
long sacrifices formed part OF religious worship
The heather gods required multiplicity OF Offer
ings, while the
JEWISH GOD REQUIRED BUT FEW,
and these few broad classes OF offerings suited TO par
ticular wants and occasions. The heather gods
many but the Jewish God IS one-a personal Being,
the Ruler OF an impersonal world. swaying 1t &C.
cording His own VIII. Rut He Is also Father ana
governs matter not merely in majestic ignorance,
but makes ample provisions for all HIS creatures,
and look With compassion on our race The gods
Of the heather were Gelhcaions OF nature--destruc-
tive, preservative, &c.-sometimes sexual. They
represented influences or forces of form and power,
while they themselves were elements or primcval
matter. Their sacrifices formed either creed of
panhsis as ~, WIN inc a sneiens or Of polyte,
and CT eeds may exact homage of man, but they
CANNOT RAISE HIN ABOVE HIS NATURE.
The sacrifices Of the Hebrews were spiritual; those
OF other nations were physical. The former worked
on the mind ana soul: the latter on the feelings ana
interest OF man. The one sought TO elevate
men toward God; the other to degrade
God TO the level OF men. Other sacrifices were
to lose their influence but the Hebraic offerings
remained symbols OF purity and spirituality while
they were offered. Prayer or the spontaneous con-
fesslon Of the soul, the imposition OF hands could
not however. secure permanence for them, ana the
sacrifices de:erlorated into q lifeess form. such
worship is apt to engender hypocrisy, which, under
q studied application Of righteousness, covers cor
ruption. THIS danger existed IN the early ages,
when mankind had no written law. IL Is generally
admitted that the
sACRIFICIAL RITUAL OF THE pENTATEUcH
Ia symbocal and designed to clothe abstract ideas
In symbolic language suited TO the untutored mind
The language employed Is simple and intelligent,
and free frol that hairsplittlng casustry which
ina in It's later Talmudical development. IL Is
adapted thoughtfuiy to modest degree of national
education. When 1t declares itself unaterablc and
to exist for all time, 1t becomes injurious and
Objectionable IN the extreme. 1t lostercd cellng
OF dependence upon God ana his WILL occupied the
senses of untutored people and admitted the posi-
meaning of religion. The symbol has ceased to be
a type OF what II once was, and has become a
DANGEROUS OBSTACLE TO TRUE RELIGION;
system OF worship. and were means OF religious
discipline and education. For time their influence
was recognized but 1t was OF comparatively snort
duration. As the notions of Deity and OF true re.
gion advanced thoughtful men began to look upon
sacrifices as less and less essential while the same
time they attached greater Importance to inward
pioy and to lilc oreligous duty. And the prophets
or Israel denounced the hypocrtical worship while
to obey Is better than sacrifice and to earken than the
fat Of rams And rom Isaiah to Maiachl and also IN
the Psalms tho inspired writers uttered scathing
against the sacrifcal orship as then
conducted. Says Hosea, 81 desire
FAITH AND NOT SACRIFICE
and the knowledge OF God rather than burnt Offer
ings." And Amos declares tnat God will not &C.
cept the peoples burnt offerings and required the
rather that they should let justice flow ike water
and righteousness like river These principles
breathe the spirit OF pure religious progress and
dlvest the Christian faith OF It's doctrine OF
ritual bare and present II as hollow falsehood.
sacrifices belong TO an elementary age and can
not be converted into transcendental operation,
which must be spontaneous IN inc heart. II may be
that the idea OF sacrifice is so bound up IN human
HdtuIe Jntb IL UScll ia some 10TH,
and that nothing can dispossess the heart or 1t.
But the sacrifices OF self-dena and love, which
the offspring OF a true and active fait--these only
SECURE THE FAVOR OF GOD.
Hear In what eloquent terms Micah speaks:-
"Wherewith shall / come before Gods VIII He
accept calves OF year old, or shall offer the fruit
OF my body for the sin OF my soul ~ &C. The
answer contains the substance aud essence OF
all true relgion:-"rnou hast been told, man,
what is good. And what doth the Lord require
OF thee but to do justly, to love mercy ana to
walk humbly with thy Cod" These are the three
IN n IN raj Cio
humility. They form the apex OF the religious sta.
ture of every man and reflect the attributes or God.
Let justice, humility and love minge with the
snip which we offer to Cod and thus shall We secure
hero and salvation nnrealler