, 1876-05-01
THE LORDS CHAMPION,

SERMON nf THE nET. d. HonLER.
Tho Rov. DR.. Kohler preached yesterday
morning to the Sinai Congregation, on "Israe.
the Champion OF the Lord The following La
the sermon, tho text for which Is found IN Gen.
esin. 11xi,.. 22-32. and Hosea, xiii:
There Is . touching sympathy manifested In
human history botwoou tho lives OF all heroes
celebrated in tradition and FOLKLORE and
tho majestic sun. Ever ainco the remotost hgea,
mankind locked upon the bright ruler Of day ~
its aasociate In the Htruggle for light and life.
Docs ho not, indeed. present ths very image Of
hero. az he etasts On his daily journey, clad In
m atmos respondent with glory, hia quiyor
filled With gltserinR arrows. which hs hu1la
against tho powers Of darkuees imped-
ing hts mazch7 500 tho hosts Of clouds
gathering to plunge the world into
night again! Listen to tho winds furious
believing when, on springs arrival tho young
sun entora into creation, hailed by erery being
"a tho rsdeemor from wfntets 10y fettorB!
Claiming blrshright for night, which preceded
day, or for tho bazsennear OF CHAOS which ya4
in advance OF creations hloum, these hostla
powers continue their combat with tho uptiring
champion Of light. ha'sying their forces ever
anew to check his prosress, they at last succeed
io laming his strength. Still le ia not defeated.
With unconquerable might lle Again ttAes to tri-
horo-a continued struggle for light and froo-
dom against tho evil powers which threaten tho
world With darkness. etthor monsters sleyonr~
Ing tbs land. or III tho shape Of human tyranny
and falschood Whether uationa standard OF
virtue IL lofty ~ heaven, or hardly hbove
brutal force and cunning, It's heto's ugo
reflects tho picture Of tho glorious warrior
fr tito sky. Notice. for instance, the beAmiug
forehead Of Moses finding its phrsllnl Ia that Of
JamahLd and Alexander in Oriental. or TINT Of
Sigfr,ed In German fo!k-loro md In the alreoA
Of tho mediDyal ealnls. Or compare the sscau-
sion Of Elijah on tirey chariot MP to Heaven to
tho fate OF Hercules, 1lomu|us, and JcBus. Any
attempt to account Tor thcBe stories In natural
way did, and will, fail. Thoy are no fncts, but
l.s choaon ones. Among these muss we class
tho story just rcad to you OF Jacob wrestllnE
with tho spirit. Night is the dark power
wreatling With The lord Ut day, which, after llmne
dawn OF morn, whilst hatlinR him tho conqueror.
but the original 1uesnlug being forgotten tho
legend In cvnuocsion With river named Gabbok,
Tho wEestle5." md . village called psnte' "tis
vino wtestlcr," thus explaining also the singular
11ebtow custom OF not exiting tho siuewa OF
the lons Of animals. Yot aa the sacred w11tat
undoubtedly desired to convoy = certain truth
form, 10 detect its hidden meaning. And there
VIC lind a vivid picture Of tito struggle Of both
aiue!o human soul yosrning for tho divine biess+
ing. and OF tho jewish people striving for ths
fulallment Of its mission, oaca to be crowned
with q victory AZ certain rs tho auns triumph
oyor the powers Of dArknesa-
There 10 = singular foaturo Ia khe complex.
ion Of tho atory which strikes Us. Jacob, ws
arc told. has boom crippled aud nado poWorlese,
and yet bin combatans recognizes him ~ his
yauqulshet; nay. from boing an oaemy, turna
into ff1ond, parting from him With blassings-
Do cobquoroEB thus treat thplr captivea. or the
6ubdued their v{ctcEHY Not where war fg wARed
for earthly goods or temporary tntesests. Thoto
victory on the one hand botokena defeat On tho
other;. gain for ono party Is loss for the other.
Tho Bhouts OF triumph deafen the cEtes OF tho
tho woos OF tho vanqu!shed. Tho genius Of hu-
msnitY ia saddened 1t tho sight of blood and
tes1a. Quite differently Ia war carredo In tho up
pet regions. There loss Ia turned Into gain, defeat
vAnqusher. healing in store for the wouadsd
on the wings Of tho victors. Night parts from
day 10 love, with blessings on ITS Lips, Buoh 4
warfare In the spiritual world.
TWodinerons elemenss OF character are blended
tn Jacob. The one is shrawduess and crafuuess,
alwaFs devssing some schcme TO gain advantage
over llts brother. Thts represents Jacob "the
eupplanter," t.ths willy" "the deceitEul." Ha
eli1gs 70 outs.1d bsssa!pgs, to bsgutl!ng smiles'
What but ousas u tho blessing defEauded from
hs hliuu fa.herl The blrthright cheated from
his brother mere bubblol Nor do su tho
rlches acquired a. the hands Of LAbla secure
unto him ona ni8ht's 1ess and safety,
But thsra ID = batter man hidden deeply tn
his aoul; noblsr traits sumbar heneath tho sur
faua of h!a heast, Ike the asals Of hesven only
waiting Tor might TO disclose thslr luAtxo. Waan
l1sE thrust out from the As4tsriug Rlluremonta
OF homs, amldst fa&s aud want thay dimlY Ap-
peaxed unto him, but vera soon Hhrpuaed hY
RTaface. and lost alght OF u tho eullea Of for
tune. Nov, On tho potns Of returning home.
uncertain whathar his bsotaaF would nlsAt him