The New York herald., 1876-08-20
SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP.

THE DOCTRINE OF REWARDS AND PUNISH
MENrs DISCUSSED BY REV. II. S. JACOBS.
The Thirtyfour street Synagogue showed evi-
dcnccs OF cooler weather and the return to the
city of many absent families. Tho congregation was
large aud the choir back their places in good
voice sacr their vacation Tho music
qucn,ly bnc The Rev. Mr J,co5s discourscI .hc
doctrine OF rewards and punisnments, which is not
merely a development Of Hebrew theology aud polty,
but is tho plain teaching OF Holy Scripture. For II is
written '.God will bring to Judgment every secret
thing, whether II DO good or whether il
be cvii," &c Is doctrine. therefore,
fully recognized by rabbnca wri,cra Naimouidcs in
corporacs It in his thirteen principles as being an
essential part, II not the basis. Jewish creed And
rightly SO, since 1t does depend upon mere infer
logical deduction, but the direct teaching OF
rorah even as it arre,rs in the cson OF he day
deuteronomy, xiii IRON which lverses 26-2sJ Mr
Jacobs selected his text. lbu Ezra commenting On
thls text declares that has the force OF an individual
application, while the phrase itself is designed to gave
tho force of an intelligent perception dependent
the acceptance OF The reason Of mere faith, but
the result OF clear effort OF the derslanding
The vcry certainty OF rewards and punlshmons IS an
indirect incentive to do the tich, ana shun the wrong
TO accept the blessing and escape tho curse pro-
nounced here upon the wrong docr. True
VIZ Mrsr sKSvg
from the highest and purest motives, free from the
taint OF nterestedns ss yet does tho manifest us-
tcc OF require that Hc should note tho difference
between those who break and who keen HIS COM
mandncnisy Is II not this divine pfccept that marks
tho Inc right and wrong? And this very con
sciousness IN The human heart prompts cease
do evil and carn to do we'll What indeed n virtue
but the dong OF that which Is pleasing and right?
And can lnd pleasure in the pursuit OF vices We
ca nnut rely the fuciuating and Varying definitions
OF pleasure when tho world imposes History and cx.
perencc gvc abundant cvacncc OF the incorrcctncss
Of such standard; how would be colored according
70 prcudices and translsured according cxgcnces
Hence the law OF God becomes The only infnibic
authority. IL recognizes no crime being made
ycnial by OCCASION IL lays down rule OF lie for
all and IL gives assurance OF divine iavor or d,sap-
proval according hearkcn 10 or turn away from
tho voice of the Lord.
But this doctrine or rewards and punishmcnts carried
TO its logical rcsulis must recognize man as free
moral agent For otherwise he csnnos be held rcspon-
siblc lie must be tree IN his choice his actions
otherwise IL would bc the grcatct absurdity the most
sup,ndous injustice to claim Tor hin rewards on The
one hand or 10 bo him amenablc to punishment on
tho other compulsory obedience to certain rules or
laws would DO morally defective II would make man
not merely irresponsible but irrational the line OF
dcmarca!ion between right and wrong would be eaccd
he idea of chance or OF pfcdestinaon that
grades mon 10 the level ci brutcs Nor wouli tho argu-
inens cease here, since bind necessity would