The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-14
THlRTY.rOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.

The Spiritual Significance OF the Spies
and the Promised Land-Common Ex-
+ cuses for tho Neglect of ReIig ion-scr-
mon by Rev. DIR. vidaver.
Previous to announcing his text yesterday morn
ing DR.. Vdaver made an appeal to the Congrega.
ton Bnai Jeshurun In behalf OF the Hebrew Free
School Society. Pecuniary help Is now needed to
maintain these schools, not only in their secular
department., but in their religious also, and the
Doctor considered 1t the duty oil every lsraelite In
the city to help the OF religious education In
those schools.
The Doctor announced his text from Numbers
kill, the account of the sending out OF spies to
search the land OF Canaan. This, he said, as well
almost oil the narrauons OF the sacred volume.
is like holy snrineS in which are deposited divine
truths. IN this narrative we find an explanation
OF our own land OF promise. Every one OF US has
a glorious land OF promise, and this holy land is
nothing else than faith. Religion is the land
Moving with milk and honey. land Of sweetness
and full OF blessings. when trouble overtakes
then religion drops It's rest and peace into our
souls. 1t is ike the oasis In the desert, ike the
water springs In the wilderness. or ike the heal
waters OF Marah, and they became pure ana
healthfnl. Religion Is the only land OF promise,
only land OF sweetness where a man can say that
the lines have fallen to him in pleasant places, and
where he has goodly heritage u Is 70 the sol. soul
whereon 1t leeds and lives and grows and without
which IL sickens anu dies.
RELIGION is THE MAMMA, THE ANGELS FOOD,
which God has given TO man-the pure milk, with
out admixtures Of mysteries. II is Just DIT for man.
land OF Canaan we lind here III our own land. He
declared that bread should not be eaten there IN
poverty; here we have 1t Ia abundance and pow
erty IS almost unknown. Faith taxes away from
poverty It's sharpest sting, and the apparently
poor man becomes rich in faith and an heir
that land was that Its stones should be
OF IRON. Here IN our promised land may be found
represent integrity. will.power. where do we
lind these thingsf Not with the wording, whose
mind is swayed by caprice or hnmor and whose
soul Is tempted and deceived by the tongue OF
iattery and deceit. No. But we find In that
true land OF faith and love, in the heart conse.
Grated to God, those stones OF drmncss OF will
and integrity Of character. Show me one, said the
preacher. who lives on this sacred soil of Pa es.
stones OF iron. David had no word In all his
writings To express our term civilization. ana yet
he describes the true gentleman as one who takes
not up reproach against his neighbor, who does
not SANDER or deceive his neighbor. such man
dwells IN the capital of this Holy Land, and rne
Is at peace with himself and with his God and with
all men. He has peace in his home IN his busl-
pious Jew that he might die in Jerusalem. Let ii
be our wish to die III tnls heavenly land OF prom
ise; IN snis city OF tae Most High in salem the
TO possess TINS land and to gain an entrance into
this city ron must strive for it.. Apd yet, If we
ask ourselves Are We striving for itS" we must
give negative answer. What we do Is TO
SHOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROMISE
or II, as II that were enough. 1T Is good 10 have
the promise OF thus goodiy land. but doubt and
.scepticsm say we can't go up until we have first
sent out spies to search the land and 10 bring us
woodworking 1t. And the Lord says He has
nothing against such a precaution. Our spies are
sent out and the land Is examined, and they come
back laden with the rich and luscious fruit OF that
land. Virtue and morality are the fruits OF that
land OF inith, aud who will dare mt his voice
against thescs No one. Hence the spies report
that the land is good but-and then doubt and
unbehef again steps In 70 mar our Joy and our
peace. The land Is good, but there are giants
there and the cities are walled up TO heaven, and
the spies say we can't W up and possess the land.
The Lord has promised IL To u.s. lie has brought
US out Of bondage and hidden us go up. and enter
the land; our spies have reported 1t goodly land,
and have shown Us some OF Its Tuits but here the
difficulty Is thrown in our way. The Amalekites.
the Canaanites and the Utilities are in the land |;
enter therein. Don't you know what people say
In these days when the claims OF religion are
pressed upon them They tell us that piety Is
lsraetes You will have to give up the friends and
the enjoyments that you have bad for forty years.
The giants are there; the cities are walled;
RELIGION MUST BE SEPARATE
rom the world; we cannot 20 In and possess IT,
Besides, the land will eat up the inhabitants; II
VIII never 90 for US young people especially to be-
fc and tue profits OF the seventh day sabbath. We
cannot do 1t. We cannot forego those fashionable
sins that have been the chief Joy OF our youth. No.
no. this land is not designed Tor u.s. IL Is intended
for giants, but 1t Is Jolly us to think OF going
there. Two OF the spies, however, bring diner
ent report Caleb and Joshua say we are well able
TO go up and possess the land. Caleb means nrm
Will Every man can become giant oy Tue auop-
ton OF two little words, II snall.n Keep the Sab
bath and be religious, and not run with the multi
tude to do evil. Where there Is nrm WIZ there
is an.open way. But then comes Joshua-"God IS
with u.s. II we walk in the righ. pain. Inc nrst
step is taken by the nrm viii, and the second and
all subsequent steps are directed DY t0u. Ana
wherever His presence abides with US there Is the
promised land, the city Of Salem, the peace Of God
In the soul