The New York herald., 1873-12-07
LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGOGUE.

The seven Lamps and the Golden Cam
dlestick-The Difference Between Natu-
raj Virtue and Religious Principle
The Characters of Leah and Rachel
Sermon by DIR. Hucbsch.
goodly congregation gathered in this elegant
synagogue yesterday to listen to a discourse by the
popular rabbi, Rev. Dr.. Huebsch, who spoke from
the text Numbers Will, 2-'When thou lightest the
lamps the lamps shall give light over against
the candlesticK." Not because the Lord needs hu-
man light has He ordered to kinde lamps in tho
holy place OF His special presence. "He knoweth
what IS in the darkness. and the light
dwelleih with HIM. This commandment
intends rather turn human spirit to the ioun-
tain head OF light. Every man Is endowed with an
immortal spark, the soul There Is q latent faculty
in this spark to expand, but not without proper
Dourlshment. As the seed needs the rain to de-
velop 1T into plant and to bear fruit, so bv the
aid OF the heavenly food, the religious light, the
soul becomes q cultivated spirit The spark de
veops into lamp, showing us the right path to a
vlrtuous life. man might say he cared little Tor
religion and followed his natural disposition CIV
ing to the poor and supporting tle needy, not be-
cause religion commands It, but because he felt
disposed so; and then ask, is II not al the same
whether he was actnated by this or by another
motive. as long as his action comedies with
what men Call virtue? lt is by no means
all the same, the Doctor remarked. In the
first place, In being endowed with moral con-
a e man s W. We cep can
cuse a bad motive, nor can good motive improve
. bad action. TO separate one from the other Is 10
sever the bond between Jody and soul. IL IS to
say, my virtue IS the result OF my religious princi-
pies, which means nothing else than that my soul
has become enlightened by divine truth to ackn0wl-
edge this line OF action as the only one conducive
10 my salvation; from this path will not recede,
and 4 ! meet win nardships ladI ana nndranvesl
not recoil my conviction shall make me
stea lfast. But virtue growing out rom q
mere natural dispositlon without being supported
by religious principle, Is like that poor snip VIE du
Havre. Unsuspcious Of danger. she sails 10 the
darkncss-a sudden collision, Il vehement shock,
and ruin and death break in wnerc u moment be-
fore all were sale on beard. Uncertain are the
waters OF temper: you cannot know when the
storm OF passion may rise that VIII overhowl the
voice OF your natural good disposition and wreck
the ship OF your virtue on the hidden ROCKS OF
but temptation was too strong Tor him,
and he lell in sIn.r That is a story that
repeats 1tsell u thousand times q day. hut you
seldom near IL said, 'He was well princpled man.
but temptation was too strong for him." Princi-
pie Is mighty shield. rhe power TO- resist Is the
belief In supreme idcai OF perlectness aud u
virtue cmanating IRON the unreliable source OF
good disposition. The former is as the SHINING
light that shneth more and more unto he perfect
day. The latter Is like an ignis Jdtauts IL leads
you astray and then expires Religion Is Gre
ative power in man; il brings him up to
| the luli growth OF manhood. That concettcd
belief in mans own wisdom, however,
i
developed and leads him to u state OF chidshness
rather tnan TO manhood Behold King solomon.
lie Is called the wscst OF men; he asked God ior
| wisdom TO govern the people, but not to govern
| himself He accOmp shed great work but all his
dongs bear the stamp OF proud and worldly
genius True, ne builds a magnificent temple unto
the Lord, but ne also builds magnificent paiaces for
| himself and hts wives. He makes gold and
| silver vessels for the holy service, but not
less pompous IS his own household What
we miss IN him i that humble submission
\ which IS characteristic OF true belief He Is
1 the wisest ol men, he ollows his own wisdom. But
wnefe does that lead him TO 7 IL Is clearly stated
| In the Bibe-"For u came TO pass when solomon
was old that his wives turned away has heart after
other godsi and his heart was not perfect with his
! father.n so that he who began his reign with the
| Lords promisc-"inere SHAH be none Ike thec"-
ends 1t with the sad prospect that the greater
part OF his kingdom shall be torn away
/ from his son. The reverse OF this ad
mOnshing picture we see In Abraham. He
| begins with obedience toward God, and marks out
! one line for himself which he follows through the
1 whole OF hls lite. And Abraham believed In God !;
| the same submission in the Will OF God IL exhil-
| the itch nabob. Humility towards God raises him
10 the hgn position OF the friend OF COD. Inc
| prophet Isaiah calls him the "rocK whence ye are
hewn.n And indeed rock he was; often trleu ne
never was shaken IN his belief Every new trlal
cngendered new virtues In MIN: his soul drank
with holy thirst the waters RON the eternal
and radiant with q never fading light
There are seven lamps ior man-wcaith love-
nes pea beau gosa the aps the seven en-
lamps shall give light over against the candle
stickn BE always guided IN the enjoyment o. the
heavenly gifts by the consc9nsness , ,hat WIN God
IL The fountain Of lie and In Ills lght snail see
! light.
beautiful temper and disposition Of the hated and
| homcly Leah with that OF the pecvisb, petted and
dcceitinl Rachel lie commended the patient vr-
| tue OF THE former to their Initiation