The New York herald., 1873-08-17
LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGOGUE.

The Glorious Future of Humanity and
How It Is To he Ushcred In-Specula-
tive Versus Practical ReliSion-Beauty
of the Law of MOscs-Sermon by Rev.
DIR. Huebsch.
Rev. DR., Huebsch preached yesterday to a fair
congregation on the Office and work of speculative
or sectaran religion and of practical religion re-
spectively. Hist was Psalm lxxxv., s-12-.Twin
hear what God the Lord will say to me- for He will
speak peace uutO His people and to His sants,'
&C. These few verses of the sacred bard, he said
comprise beautiful description OF the glorious
future and at the same time delineate the system
of religion by whose agency this prosperous period
shall be introduced The religion of Israel
is not compilation OF philosophical
speculatiOns or mysterious riddles, but
is rather the heavenly guide who leads the chill
dren OF the Lord to their highest destination in o
path and by way wherein none who desire to
follow need go astray. Faith Is the leader by
which the race or the individual man is to attain
this prosperity, whether spiritual in material
affairs. Speculative-that is, standardization
cannot achieve this end practical religion can.
God is the highest idea, that cannot be penetrated
by the keenest intellect of the most gifted mortal:
but can be felt in His blssul fleets by the simple
and truthful heart of child. Not to accept and
believe in God, unless our reason can solve the
problems that are connected with His attributes OF
eternity, in1nity and spirituality, is serve and
sun until we can understand the laws by which
that orb is governed. We may mistake or lail TO
comprehend the influences OF those laws upon the
solar SYSTEM but we cannot fail To appreciate the
necessity and beneficial effects OF the SUMS rays
upon our world. To philosopntze about God, if it
be done in proper and reverent spirit, will tend
to increase our knowledge OF the Supreme Being:
but let not our specuations concerning the Deity
interfere with our faith in the All-GOd, even in
negative way.
Moses was not vaingorious when he said of the
law which by his agency the Lord had Impaired TO
wisdom
ing IN the sight OF the nations which shall hear all
these 1 statutes and shall say surely this is wise
osopher, said the Doctor, on hearing this passage
VIII remark, with scornful smile, Past and
faded glory never to be revived again." But every
enlightened thinker who knows anything of the
essence these statutes Will abide by the prediction
hope for the time to come when all nations shall
acknowledge the wisdom and grandeur of Israels
law. Put all the philosophical treatises and ESSAYS
ON God and man into the scale with that small sec
tion oil the scriptures which treats Of the sancty
oI manSndmLeviticus M LII xix.-and, yolnminous as
than vanity ITSELF in comparison with the wisdom
OF God: In this chapter you can see what Judaism
Is and what it inculcates. First. it inculcates
faith in the one only living and true God; 1t warns
against the sins OF dolatry and superstition; it
the ssnctity of the Sabbath; It inculcates
charity TO the poor, honesty in all things whether
in private in public lie, cautions us not to har-
Dor malice or revenge In our bosoms and to love
/ our neighb0rs as ourselves. Aud nearly every one
OF these commandments closes with the words, "a
know Me only by doing good" Every pure thought
and every virtuOus act Will bring thee nearer to
| the idol OF perfecton-tO the Lord. Work out the
principles laid down in this chapter OF the
Scriptures, and ysu will ind truth and mercy so
closely entwined love and justice so thoroughly
embodied in them that we may Justly say, they are
not only the indispensable condition for the welfare
OF the individual but they are destined to become
the future constitution OF mankind at time
when the human mind and heart In general
will be purified and will have returned
| to that unsophsticated simplicity which alone en-
ables the soul to listen to the voice OF truth and to
enjoy the heavenly peace which Is the portion OF
all those that love the Lord with all their heart and
all their soul.
| thankful to the Most High that He had made them
| professors OF 50 pure and sublime q creed which
| contains the true seeds OF salvation for mankind
and hoped that they might snow their gratitude by
steady and upright walk in the ways OF the Lord,
and that they might make Hisla the rule OF every
| action OF their lives. Then, said he, mercy and
truth shall meet together; righteousness and peace
| shall kiss each other. Then shall the Lord give
that which Is good and our land shall yield her
Increase.