The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17
LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGOGUE.

GoD's METHOD OF EDUCATION AND MANS
NO REAL ANTAGONIST BETWEEN SCIENCE AND
RELIGIoN-HUMILITY NEEDED IN APPROACH
ING GoD--sERMON BY DE. HUEBsCH.
The Rev. DR.. Huebsch ectnred yesterday to Q
goOuly congregation at the Temple Anavath
Chesed, on Lexington avenue. from the text Gen.
esis xvn 27-"Behold now l have taken upon
me to speak unto the ord who am but dust ana
ashes" These words. the Doctor remarked, were
uttered by the patriarch Abraham ut the timo
when he stepped boldly forward to plead for the
doomed cities OF the plain and to argue right and
justice with Him who errs not in Judgment. The
foundation OF his moral courage was his spirit Of
humility before God. Conscious OF his own weak
ness he became strong in the intercourse which he
held with his Maker. The language which
he uses here conveys more truth and In
formation as to mans attainment OF perfection
than volumes OF subtle philosophical research
could do. 1t traces out simple way, way easy
to follow, and yet certain to lead to ~ high ana
glorious end. To the way OF religion might said
the Doctor, apply the words Of the Biblical philos-
opher, "GOd hath made man straight, but they
have searched out for themselves many complics-
ti0ns." Many young man Is allured away from his
religious moorings by the antagonisms Of super
ncial or so-caled science. But is not science the
product OF the human spirit9 How could 1t, then,
be adverse to religion unless the latter be no bet
ter than superstition =, Consider the vast amount
of knowledge with which our century has been en-
rIched, and how can the past we with the present
How can the old traditions stand against the new
discoveries? This Is the argument by which the
assaants of religion are guided or misguided.
Blessed are those who stand on the Held and labor
REAP THE HARvEsrs OF TRUTH
which have been sown. They are not blessed be-.
cause they labor to fill the granaries OF knowledge
with stores for future use, but because they FUR
a to 1e an5 sou
ence on the mind nourshes 1t and builds 1t up In
truth and knowledge And by Its benencent in
huence upon the soul must the work be meas
ured. ] admit that great men OF the past knew
less than those OF the present day IN respect 70
thing they far surpassed the scientists OF our
time-the little they knew they converted into
subservient to one absorbing ides-namely, the
moral elevation OF mankind BY means OF spirit
nal system OF religion NO doubt the prophets
our astronomers, naturalists ana other scientists
possess. Nevertheless many description OF nat
ural phenomena preserved In the prophetic writ
ings speaks to our minds and thrills our hearts
win more grandeur and JOY than the most minute
analysts OF the greatest savant OF modern times-
why is this ? Because the sublime idea that AMI
! mated them that
shed divine lustre all their Investigations and
meditations. Il man IN order to become rel,-
were obliged st ana 10 as roos0 eso
branch. .'Do You approve Of my Cod Wner E,
! such wandering would be Ruthless for the earth
| would say, He Is not here; the deep knows
Him not; He dwells not with the stars"
But 1t Is not necessary TO search for God In
that way. He comes near to every one OF rs. He
gives us religion, the bread OF the SOUL ana He
gives 1t to every man IN the same way He deals
with us all as His children, and without Him we
should perish In moment This Is what gives
this Will must be educated. The Doctor here drew
parallel between God's education OF us as HIS
children and our education OF our own offspring.
He seeks not the destruction OF the WILL but lis
education and direction into proper channels and
modes of manifestation. We should study Gods
methods IN the training and education OF our
children. A child with perverted Will and ono
manity. II a child has weak muscles we
| don't cut those muscles out and try to
! insert strong ones, but we give those
weak muscles proper exercise and direction, ana
thereby tend to make them strong. In like man.
ner we must give proper exercise and direction to
the Will OF the child, and thereby bring 1t under
! holy and Strengthening influences.
GOD WANTS TO HAVE GOOD CHILDREN,
but that does not imply that we shall have no viii
of our own, but rather, that our Will shall be In
accord with HIS. And for this purpose He gives
| us law whereby we may be directed and led into
the way OF righteousness. The Doctor then
pointed out the influence OF cody example at
home upon children, and urged that, as mis- con-
gregation desire to have Sheir children grow up In
the FEAR OF the LORD, they themselves should so
walk before God that the Almighty could say OF
/ them He said OF Abraham:-'I know him tnae
| he Will command his children and his househotd
! after him, that they may walk IN the Tear OF th0
Lord and In ms commandments"
DECADENCE OF ORTHODOX CA
TUOTICISM IN RUSSIA