The New York herald., 1873-11-16
TEMPLE EMANUEL.
The Folly and the Evil Consequences OF
Tempting God-Dise ussion by Rev. DR..


The Folly and the Evil Consequences OF
Tempting God-Dise ussion by Rev. DR..
GOttheil.
DR.. GOtthel yesterday read the porti on OF Scrip
ture which details the murmurings of the Children
OF Israel for water IN the wilderness and the
miraculous production OF that nud from the finty
rock, as related in Exodus xvii. text, he re-
marked, is often the means OF making discourse
to be remembered, just as an incident may be long
remembered by II this be so, he said, his text
might be remembered long after it had left his
lips, and he hoped 1t would remain with the con-
gregation in the actual issues of life. 1t was for
this reason that he chose a text at all on this
OCCASION and the words thus chosen were the two
by which the spot at Horeb where the miracle was
wrought was called Massat and Menhat, for there
chide with them. The folly Of thus tempting God
was the leading thought OF the discourse.
TO TEMPT FOR,
in the Biblical sense, the Doctor, said means to
question His power, and 10 chide with Him is to
question HIS goodness, His mercy and His divine
representations and to doubt HIM for the future
His (the Doctor's) purpose, therefore, would be to
show the folly OF such line OF conduct. Between
these two words there is a natural connection as
between cause and effect. Wherever there is a
chiding there is tempting Of Coda distrust and
disbelief in His providences. The Doctor gave
few simple Illustrations. man by lucky specula.
tons acquires wealth and increases the comforts Of
lie and the surroundings Of his home. But he for
misfortune or bad speculation, he loses ALL His
friends forsake him now IN his poverty. He
tempted God and there was his Massat. Another
illustration was that OF a maiden who refuses
the suit OF poor good man and accepts
that of wealthy bad one,o who has
no affection for her, ana she finds it out
when it is TOO late. She, too, has tempted God to
bring good out OF evil, and now reaps the conse-
quences. She has sown the seeds OF sorrow. and
must reap a harvest OF griet Another illustration
was that OF young man who has wrecked himself
and the noble talents which God has given him
hv uytnk knIn nrdn va1 nf liTa I'm hos
objection Will be raised that these are extreme
cases. SO they are; but it ls only by such extreme
cases that the real danger Of thus tempting God
NAV De seen and understood. How often, he asked,
have we been guilty OF chiding with and tempt
ing God and declared that we did not deserve the
heavy stroke OF His chastlsement that was lard
upon US SO far from being dissatisfied our bOSoms
should swell with gratitude to God Or the way
in which His mighty arm has saved us from our
own follies and faults. And sucn miracles as this
in the wilderness are seen among us every day.
Our souls are thrsting and iaintlng within us but
the rock Is cleft Tor US, and we find
REDEMPTION WHERE WE LEAST EXPECTED
it. Let therefore, the Doctor said, these two
words be inscribed on our hearts, so that when we
are inclined 10 tempt God or to chide with Him for
His providences and dealings with us we may
be restrained. And we should remember to hus-
band our strength against the day or trial and
trouble, and be in submissive obedience to the
divine authority, that God may carry us, as on
eagles wings, and bring to happiness and
peace
The Doctors address was attentively listened to
by the large congregation present. but the sermon
was more bref than usual, ana the services closed
earlier than they ordinarily do. The Friday even
ing lectures IN the temple are proving to be q
great success, and are OF growing interest to the
young people OF the congregation Other syna-
gOgues nave begun to move also in this direction,
and new life seems to be iniuslng itself into
METROPOLITAN Judaism.