The New York herald., 1874-07-12
NINETEENTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.

NcVs Nff. 00cOoS on INC ChdrACter OK
Phineas-What is Needed to Meet tho
Present Tide Of Indifference In Israel.
Yesterday the Rev. George H. Jacobs preached
the character Of Phineas, the son OF Aaron, the
prest as displaying those qualities OF zeal and
discretion which are required in This day to meet
and successfully combat the tide OF indifference
that is sweeping over every religious denomina-
ton in this land The Scriptures, ne remarked,
very brief in their deineations OF character
in the case OF Phineas who, we are told
in Numbers XIV, verse II, turned Gods wrath away
from the children OF Israel while he Jealous
for the Lords sake among them that He con-
sumed not the children OF Israel In HIS jealousy.
The one prevailing feature which marked PhIneas
was zeal in the cause OF religion. The occasion
referred to was one that called forth all hts
spiritual power to work and fight for God
and for morality. II was his hand that struck
down sin and the sinner when idolatry prevailed
throughout the land. And now what is the i'm.
portant lesson OF this history TO in the present
day ? Do we require the same zeal and earnest
ness as was manifested BY Pnlneas DO the cir
cumstances OF our day call Tor such zeal Does
not our own experience testify that we live LII q
DAY that requires US to check
THE INDIFFERENCE THAT PREVAILS AMONG U.s.
and that we need an earnestness which that OF
100 PhtneaSes could not accomplish ? Zeal Is
always required of us; but now more than ever to
stem the torrent OF irreligion that prevails every
where.
But 1t may be said that Israel Is no worse than
others; that we are no more blamaole for indiffer
thonsands-a mere drop In the bucket-to those
Indifferent ones who are 70 be found in
.nss in su ssEs. But But
preacher. Is 1t an argument that because
transgression is general among other creeds they
are worse than ourselves No. The character Of
Pnineas SHOWS that when detection Is in the land
we must bestir ourselves and meet 1t; and though
we may not require the javelln or the sword, we
ohn mil MOI ha In NV
kindly counsel and atchuness those who err
from the truth. Our own zeal must be the con-
truth and stand up ior God 1t is not BY might
nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord,
that this work must be accomplished. Mr.. JACOBS
cautioned his hearers against excessive zeal,
which leaps INTO blgotry and Intolerance and
which is worse than the other extreme. apathy.
Moderation u the law and the golden rule tnat
will accomplish all that we want. Apathy and un-
reasonable zeal are both bad and are filed with
s az S m
one fiery road and the other covered with per.
petual snow and ice. Misdirected zeal is the for
therefore the best, and against the other two he
counselled the congregation to be well armed and
fOreWarned. Let u.s. he said,
SEEK AND PURSUE THE TRUTH,
and remember, In the words OF the Scripture, that
we shal! never return by the way IN which we
came. But while We advance let us not arrOgate
to ourselves the wisdom that does not belong to
US but to our fathers have no apprehension,
Mr.. Jacobs said, that too much zeal win be SHOWN
for the synagogue. NV Apprehension is the other
way. II you need an example Of wen directed zeal
take that OF Phineas. And whenever the need
has arisen In Israel Phlneas has been raised up
to turn back the sin that would engulf Israel The
Midrash classes him with Elijah who stood alone
against the King and the priests OF Baal. He was
very Jealous for the God OF Israel. And what q
noble position for man to thus stand as the rep
resentatve OF God. surrounded by idOlatrOus ene-
mics 1t may never be the circumstances OF our
life to be placed in the position IN which Elijah
stood; but Phlneas and Elijah are lessons lOr US
to-day to show US how we should
STAND FIRM FOR GOD AND TRUTH
and for our laitn, which stands more In danger
every day from the sons Of the covenant. Let US
not Sit IDLY by and see this spirit OF Indifference
spreading from day to day and excuse ourselves
from action merely because 1t has not reached our
own doors. And let not our actions oe in contra
ventiOn Of our words. Then acting and living IN
this cOnsistant manner we shall render ourselves
respected and respectable, and We shall have the
blessing OF God upon our works and the covenant
OF peace shall be upon us as 1t was Phlneas.
And the Lord will lift upon us the light OF HIS
countenance and give us peace.