The New York herald., 1872-04-21

The Passah or Passover festival, which will be
observed on Tuesday next and the week following,
was established to commemorate events which took
place upwards OF thirty centuries ago. The
Israelites were bondmen In the land OF Egypt, and
Divine Omnipotcnce evinced its interposition In
series OF miraculous events which at once punished
the tyranica taskmasters and restored the Hebrews
to freedom. These facts are recorded IN eEte7aso
in the first part OF the Book OF Exodus and as the
Bible Is by civilized nations conceded to be truth
fu history as well as an inspired revelation,
there can be little doubt that the events recorded
therein did actually transpire. In the enlightened
apostolic age, when Greek and Roman philosophers
spent their time In seeking after something new,
and when there was chance II there had been
disposition to cavil at and dispute those recorded
events, we find them referred to Oft and again as
facts which could not be disputed and which con-
sequently were to be accepted without question.
It may seem strange, but it liz nevertheless true,
that our modern civilization depends upon and
dates back to the exodus OF the Israelites from
Egypt and 1t may safely be asserted
that the state Of mankind to-day
Is had not this event taken place. The Jews were
selected to be peculiar people, royal priesthood
a holy nation, the instructors OF the human race;
and that they have accomplished their divine mis-
sion well Is evidenced In the higher civilization and
the increasing power Of the nations that have ao
ally committed to their keeping.
We live in an age when nothing supernatural or
miraculous is seen, but whatever occurs bears the
tions and views OF individuals, as well as
OF nations, are confined TO- their earthly
snng Inversion Of the Course Of nature rouses
man In this practical age from his daily avOcatons
We say the day OF miracles Is past, and though we
events which transpire In our midst we refer them
at once to some one OF the many known or un-
known laws Of nature. We have heard with our
ears, said the psalmist, and our fathers have de-
clared to us Thy works Of old and Thy mighty Deeds
and we repeat his words, and ask for renewed
manifestation Of those wonders. and because we
see them not we are ready to discredit the state
ments Of eye witnesses and faithful historians OF
Every orthodox Jew delights to trace the origin
of his nation back to Abraham, the Hebrew, who
was called out of the land of the Chaldeans and sent
land land that was to 'h be afterward the Inheritance
OF his posterity But God assured Abraham
at the same time that his seed should
which time they were to go up and possess the land
OF their Inheritance. And so literally and particu-
special attention Of the sacred historian Who, in
recording the events connected with the exodus,
adds that sin the sslfsame day the children OF Is
racl went forth out Of Egypt by their armies" The
immediate cause which brought the descendants of
Abraham into Egypt was the criminal hatred OF
whom they sold as slave to band OF ishmaelites,
who were going down to Egypt on trad
ing expedition sBut as the crucifixiOn
of Jesus, Of Nazareth, overrued to
the salvation Of the human race, so in a was
the enslavement of Joseph made means Of saving
the Jewish race And hence, when Joseph after
wards made himself known to his brethren he was
able to tell them that 1t was not they who sent him
thither, but God. This, of course, did not lessen
their guilt but 1t showed how mercfu and gracious
is the Lord of Hosts and how wonderfully He can
and does control the events OF nature and OF man.
The series OF events connected with the depar-
ture Of the Israelites from Egypt declares
as plainly as anything can declare 1t, that
there Is a special as well as general Provi-
dence guiding and 0verruling all the affairs of
mankind; and so important is this truth in the
divine economy that Israel was commanded to re.
DAYS of their ife and for seven days they were to
eat leavened bread nor to allow leaven to enter
their houses :-"And whosoever eateth uneavened
bread from the first day until the seventh day that
soul shall be cut Off from Israel" Thus strict was
the paschal law at its inception. The first and the
last days of this festival are held sacred, and no
kind of work Is permitted to be done in any Jewish
dwelling save that necessary to support life Jew
ish bakers and butchers in this city do for the peo-
pie what each householder in the Olden times was
required to do for himself.