The New York herald., 1871-03-26
THIRTY-FOURTH STREET SYNA.
GOGUE,

Ritnalism VS.. Spiritualty-The Sacrifices
Which God Requires Of His People-Sermon
by Rev. DIR. Vidavcr.
1t Is wonderful how greatly the beauty OF nature
affects the spirituality OF the people and Judaism
as well as Christianity feels the change. Yesterday
a very large congregation gathered in the syna-
gogue B'nai Jeshurun, to whom DR.. Vidaver ex-
pounded, In q clear and earnest manner, the typi-
cal meaning OF the Levitical priesthood sacrifices
and temple worship. The congregation mad com.
menced the reading OF the third book Of the law,
and the Doctor made the second verse Of the first
chapter the basis of his discussion:-"Speak
unto the children Of Israel, and say unto
them, If any man or you bring an offer.
ing unto the Lord ye shall bring your
Offering Of the cattle, even Of the herd or
Of the nock." This third book OF Moses. he said,
contains the sacerdotal and sacriflcia law and at
this distance OF time it must appear US like that
valley in the midst Of which Ezekiel the prophet
was sat down.
FULL OF DRY BONES.
But they once possessed life and vgor, though now
they are dry and inanimate. The fame has long
since ceased to burn on lions altar, her priesthood
has vanished, her temple has been RACED and her
stitutions of sacrifice become extinct And yet we,
OF the present day, after the lapse OF nearly two
thousand years, mediate this book OF Leviticus
the largest part or which treats or sacrifices and
offerings But like the inspired by the river Of
Chebar when placed, as it were, In the midst Of this
valley, we inclined to ask, Can these dry bones
llyew OF what avail Is the reading OF this book Of
laws and precepts from which no more good can be
derived 2. Ii would doubtless be cheering to many
an lsraelite to see the Temple again restored. But
this cannot be. Nor can we have with our present
modes OF thought any more sacrifices. But though
the book or Levlticus may appear to be valley Of
dry bones this
BIBLE IS A BOOK OF LIFE,
fresh, genial and immortal The spirit OF truth and
wisdom pervades II. God and His word and wiM
remain forever unchangeable though many OF the
external forms through which we worship Him be-
those forms were local 10 Palestine but the soul
which lived in them remains. The temple service,
the priesthood the three great national and political
HOLIDAYS and other things closely connected with
force or meaning since the Roman soldiers carried
their banners into the holy place. But the truth
the spirit OF those cereMOnials Stli llve and the
Lord says to His prophets, "Prophesy upon these
dry bones and say unto them, 0 We dry bones hear
the word OF the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto
into you and ye shall live; and will 10y sinews
upon you and will bring up flesh upon you and
cover you with skin and put breath III you and We
shall liven But what has Rome robbed Israel Of
Was Israel scattered abroad without Godf Not &C
all The glory OF God 10
NOT LIMITED TO ONE SPOT.
II fls the whole earth; and wherever an Israelite
dwels whose heart Is filed with love to God and to
humanity there Is the sanctuary OF the LORD as holy
as the temple where the Shekinah s manifested and
Were not the sacrifices on lions altars the means
OF appeasing the Deity, OF calming an angry GOO so
that the sinner man could approach himf And II
90, how can we now come To Hun ana see& Kacon;