The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-21
TEMPLE EMANUEL.

Moses Serpent Of Brass in tho Wilderness
Symbolic Of the spirit Of Envy in the
Human Heart-Lecture by The Rev. DIR.
Gutheinl.
The pleasant weather OF yesterday drew together
to the temple worship go0dly congregation, In
whose hearing the story OF the poisoning OF. the
lsraelltes by the serpents In the wilderness and
their recovery by looking at the serpent OF brass
made and set up by Moses read, ana from 1t DR..
Gutheim preached an able and thoroughly practical
DISCOURSE setting forth the symbolic character of
those fiery serpents which bit the people and OF the
brazen serpent to which they had but to look and
1--we. The question has been asked, SAID the
Doctor, can 1t be possible that serpent should
have the power to kill and to make alive to
wound and to neal Shall the circumstance
be accepted literally2 Certainly not. 1t was
not the serpent OF brass that produced
such marvellous results. 1t was but symbol, and
whenever the people raised their eyes In repentance
and faith 70 God they were healed OF their disease.
The serpent was kept, we are told for many years
afterward, and actually became
AN OBJECT OF IDoLArRoUs WORSHIP,
and 1t was not until the reign OF Hezekiah that 1t
was cast down ana destroyed.
The Immediate cause for sending the fiery SER
penis among the people was the mental dissatisfac-
ton Of the people with their situation. They longed
for what they had not, but which they knew and
believed their nelghb0rs possessed. This was the
envious serpent which gnawed at their vitals, and
caused them to pine and suffer ana waste away.
And only by looking TO God. and raising their souls
on HIGH could they reestablsh that peace In their
hearts which mad departed from them. There are
diseases OF the soul as well az Of the body. The
latter submit to the ana healing OF the phys
clan; but the former can be relieved cured only
by firm trust In God. And when mankind snail be
healed from all their moral diseases then religion
w n tiseu in reoIi m
and by ALL People who are IN the enjoyment OF good
health do not talk much about 1t; but when health
begins TO fail then they make IL an everyday topic
OF thought and conversation. SO long institutions
OF religion are necessary to effect our moral con-
vaescence SO long has religion not fulfilled It's end,
ana 1t must continue In It's benencent task But
will the time ever come when the soul snail be so
no ss WIN not e 70 IN need Of
when we shall no longer teach every man his neigh
Dor and every man ms brother saying
KNOw THE LORD ~
When religion shall no longer be taught from ten
thousand pulplts and men shall no longer war and
in a truly religious spirit9 We hope So II Is our
firm belief and conviction, for 1t has been guaranteed
to us IN the prophetic WORDS OF Isaiah-"They shall
no longer hurt nor destroy IN all my holy mountain
for the. eartn shall be filed with the knowl.
edge OF the Lord as tho waters covers
kind win be healed from all their moral diseases
There are two kinds OF moral dlstempers which
from the human heart Tie first Is to feel too m1c1
our own msf0rtunes and TOO little our neighDor5.
The first causes the eye TO gaze with Jealous
at neighbours prosperity, butne second closes the
eye to adversely well as to prosperity. Both nave
one common source-namely, sei1sDness; want OF
genuine philanthropy. To uproot this radical evil
and TO establish love IN the human heart Is one OF
the primary objects or Judaism and OF all true reli.
gion. This moral ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS our con.
tempt ana pity. To grieve because others prosper
TO be miserable because Others are happy-tO feel
pain at others joy-dsplays frgntfu depth of cor
ruplon In the human heart Men VINO feel are sunk
not only 10 the level OF The BRUTE but far beneath t
aud cannot be disturbed by the remotest or most
powerful consciousness OF the moral law. Animal
senshness Is satisfied when 1t mas Its own WILL Dut
envy Is never satisced-never glutted-whlle others
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ENvIous MAN
TO be blind TO the blessings which he enjoys but TO
have his eyes keeny open to those winch mis- neigh
are happy by his SIDE Hence envy Is the
prompter OF most crimes. No voice OF friend
msass pacaS can no %oy aa s wrath
peace, and ever since IT first polluted the
earth with brothers. blood 1t stalks about seeking
Its prey. And you cannot name a crime ever per.
perated that had not envy for Its source and cause
whether the crime be against the property the
Envy is as rotenness in the bones; It Is cruel and
relentless as the grave; It's breath deadly poison,
ana contact with It Is pregnant with corruption.
Mshna envy stands first, lust and ambition being
It's companions. From this radical evil religion Is |
Will Stay the simple. You would be happy, dear
friends, said the Doctor. Coo has implanted TINS |
Il
chases away love, ihst PRECIOUS boon q Cod from
your soul. And thds you arc III and unhappy the
your hearts to the tender emotions q compassion
and II yen would be happy you must obtain 1t by |
making others happy. There Is no greater feeling |
Of pleasure and Joy for you than that when YOU /
create for others, which returns To the soul with
double zest.
THE SCORPION STING OF ENVY
Will make and keep you ILL., but the medicine OF |
charity and Denevoence Will enable you 10 lift your
eyes 10 the hills whence cometn your help, and Will
bring peace TO your bosom. Weep with those who
weep II you would rejoice with those who are joy.
Tu The Doctor then called attention to the feeling
Of carelessness and unconcern which possesses so
many hearts, ana which stand midway between
envy and sympathy. he condemned it as nm
qualifediy as the former. II has the same son, ce
and Is just as wicked IN the sight Of Goo as Is envy
He urged upon mis- hearers deeds OF charity and
as the best means ~ counterfeit the
malignant influences OIL envy-the fiery serpent
which sungs, ana whose sting Is death. ~