The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-01

a.
the sum of $4,000, to be paid by SAT-
BOhne, dative tutor, ETC., In due course Q
administration OF the estate OF August
Bohne, deceased.
TEMPLE SINAI.
sermon by the Rev. James X. Guthc,sss
February ~, 1870. ~
Eye shall not turn unto the idols, and moltei
gods shall ye not make to yourselves /; l am tn
Lord your God. "-4th verse. 10th chapter Of Le
vticus.
Having already stated that these words. CORE
q the tie Becalosue shall fY now proceed to taxi
into consideration this second commandment.
II reads THUS: Thou shalt have no other god
craven image. or any likeness Of anything tina
Is In the heavens above, or on the earth be-
meath. or in the waters under the earth: thou
The doctrine here On unciaied is clear and pre-.
else. There IL but one Lord dod.. He shall moi
De represented by any image or likeness. and
No visible or efIigy shall represent Him, whom
in spirit Tho belief in the only one and spirit
most saiatary influence upon our whole life. Il
is exhibited i'm our divine worship. in our moral
conduct. and in the trials and cares which are
II am the Lord thy. Godf' These words, as
Scripture tells us. addressed by q mysterious
voice. without any similitudc being seen, 70
tho Introduction to the Docalogue. They ii fact
iire the foundation Of the whole law. Recognize
my sovereignty" says God: the recognftion Of
quence." Such Is the explanation Of our sages.
and this explanation Is true to the letter For,
without the recognition Of the sovereignty OF the
one and spiritual God. the divine laws lack their
binding force, however useful. beneficial and
necessary they may. prove In IT, ir operation.
But this fundamental condition bong adopted,
firmly rooted in our souls. we must also recog
nize the laws contained in that revelation as
eternally. valid being stamped with the seal Of
truth and with divine authority. For this rea-
son Moses. in exhorting the people to the faith
full performance of divine law, laid particular
stress on the recognition OF the unity and SOW
And thou shalt know this day and reflect in
thy heart that the Eternal is the God In the
heavens above and on the earth beneath: there
Is none else"
There is wonderful consistency an undevia-
ting uniformity In all tho passages Of Sculpture
In which Moses referred to the idea Of God. Al
the very opening OF his mission to Israel he is
charged to announce God as Il am. that am
that is tho only one eternal and mmutable God
And with the unity. eternity and immutability
q God His spiritually Is clearly expressed;
form an absolutely perfect unity. The corpo-
real is subject to dissolution into its constitu-
ont element; 1t ~ limited by time and by space
but the perfect unity OF God clearly demonstrates
TO tliat end the Scriptures utter the solemn
warming: Take ye therefore good heed unto
your souls. for ye saw no manner OF similitude
On the day that the Lord spoke unto you at
Horeb"
The second commandment stands In logical
with the first, i am the Lord, thy
Cod thon shalt have no other gods before me:
thou shalt not make unto thee any image or
likeness for purposes Of worship
1t is only in spirit that the Holy One can be
truly recognized and worshipped,
The unity ard spirituality of (+od-these two
inseparabc ideas in the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
upon which the glorious temple Of true religion
is raised. With the remuneration OF this truth
the old fabric of dolatry was shaken to its foun-
dation. tTf-
Tho luminous doctrine Of the one spiritual and
eternal God shod forth its genial rays to en-
tighten and to ennoble mankind. The doctrine
most effective in regenerating the world in re-
MI his relations Of life. HHE
man corresponds with the idea which he enter
aims of his God, for what better idea could man
strive to realize in his life than the being which
no adores and worships. Andif now. as pagan
SIN taught, there We're many gods who were
constantly warning against each other could it
all that those who worshiipped them should
ikewse IN war Ta and internecne strife
mythology, was swayed by passion. hatred and
lnbridIed Righteousness. could it be expected
hat man should cultivate the noblcr impulses Of
The more he could crafty his animal passions.
he more he could exert hts muscular strength.
lis brute force TO subiugate his fellow man. The
more cruelty he would exterminate his enemies
he nearer he imagined himself to stand to the
iivinity he .worshipped. and the greater were
Ills prospects and ms 8, hopes OF being. one. day
himself elevated 10 inc c0mpaniOnship of the
The pagan belief therefore. in many gods.
oossesssd Of eorpGreal frames me and corporeal
,urd and most revolving excuses. Here II WAS
believed that mans guilt could be atoned for.
md the enraged deity propitiatcd by Sacrificing
There the pagan temples became q scene OF bac7
carousals and OF most disgusting de-
cheries--depravities. at which nature her
.utelarV deity. to whose special protection these
sensual indulgencies were assigned
Was It not natural, therefore; that such abomi-
zoAs themselves. should epread In human
society: that intempcrance. hatred malice. cum
ming and deceit should poison the misguided
hence We read OF the constant admonition to
teep aloof in that age OF tdolatry from all Paga-
lism and to cultivate and preserve the belief in
And In passing / may here ask why was ltthati
he most polished nation Of antiquity eclipses
III others In the cultivation OF the plastic arts.
,ads Wer more renawned mor DreseS nee
EAGERLY worshipped for their beautiful forms
more for their moral excellence and perfections.
hess that the Lord proclaimed from sinai. Il am
he Lord thy God. thou shalt have no other Gods
,efore me thou shalt not make to thyself any
mage or likeness to represent the Deity"
With the recognition OF God as one and pure
y spiritual. all those denominations which poly
h6ism and imaginary corporal gods inculcafed
md encouraged, were condemned, and the on
ightened views. which we now possess Of the
rue conception and worship OF God, dates from
hat period when the world was sunk in spirit
lal darkness and the bright light Of heavenly
ruth was transmitted from Sinai for It is only
hyough the belief in tho one spiritual God that
nd that justice and love became the worthy
deals Of mankind.
May this belief in the one spiritual be es-
,oused by all mankind. SO that that God will be
by all his children, and thus uni
ersal determination among the children Of God
"a roolizod earth