The New York herald., 1877-03-18
SHAARAI TEPHILA.

SERMON BY REV. MIR. MENDEs ON SACRIFICES.
Rev. Mr. Mendcs addressed rather small congrcga-
zion yesterday morning in tho Forty-iourth street
synagogue tho subject Of sacrifices. He selected
his text from Leviticus, l., and 2-"And the Lord
called unto Moses, and spakc unto him out OF the
tabernacle Of tho congregation, saying, Speak unto
The children OF Israel and say unto them, any
OF you bring offering unto the Lord ye shall bring
your Offering Of the CATTLE OF the herd, and
flock; !" aud Jeremiah, vii, 22-"For spakc not unto
your fathers, nor commanded them in tho day that
brought them out OF the .and OF Egypt, concerning
burnt offerings or sacrifices" /"
In our discourse Of last week tho tabernacle
completed and dedicated TO the service OF God-the
celebration Of sacrihcal rites. So prominent posi-
ton havo they occupied that como 10 look
upon the sacrncial rites forming large part Of tho
Mosaic dispensation Let US look over 900 years and
stand at the gates of the Temple Of Jerusalem and
the prophet Jeremiah aborng to reform the corrupt
Inhabitants OF Jerusalem and he said, "rhus saith the
Lord; amend your ways and you may still dwell in
the city; add your SACRIFICES your burnt Offering
and cat thereof yourselves; hearken unto my voice
and ye snail be my people," Here you have appar-
eutly striking CONTRADICTION. God did institute
the sacrifices OF the book OF Levticus. To reconcile
this shall DO our lesson this morning If God did
institute them, who didY Noses
There has been tendency among q certain class to
tho laws OF Noses They assert that he Dor.
rOWed al MS laws from Egypt Iney Moses instl-
tued sacrifices Tor he bencnt OF the priesthood. They
have then examine whether can believe Moses
copied the idea OF sacrifice from Egypt, whether
we bring forward any good reason why should
not believe It. To the supposition that Moses copied
the idea wc can introduce very strong objections.
Frst-On leaving dolatrous Egypt Moses irst
dcavor TO wean the people from their idoatrous
practices. Sccond-lhere was q practical objection ::
the ANIMALS selected In levitcus tor sacriice-the
sheep and goat-wcre animals accounted holy by the
Egyptians Third--An historical objection according
to TRADITION Adam brought sacrifice, and Cain ana Abel
and Noah
THE SPIRIT or JUDAISM
Tho whole spirit OF Judaism Is 10 oppose Egypt
Egypt believed IN rabblc Of gods, Judaism in but
one and so hundred ways II rs evident that Moses
cndcavorsd 10 eradicate Egyptian ideas from the
Israeli, lust certain early teacher OF socalled
Christianity tried TO destroy respect jewish
TOMS as, tor instance, that men In time OF service
should sit with heads uncovered aud women covered.
II sentiment OF indeb, ,edness-that feeling OF graf
itudo inherent In man, as Old as man himself, that
originated them. We can ind no date Tor this. Men
found themselves indebted tor all good things to
invisible beng, ana in the gratitude Of their hearts
brought offerings 10 this invisible being
Here, then, we have found the author OF sacrifice.
II Is human nature. Just We endeav0r TO concate
each other by giving present, 30 we think 10 gain
the favor OF God Dy sacrifices. we In this age what
ever we may think OF the means, must say that tho
idea In II noble one, linking TO the Deity by
love.
Look at Moses position Custom Is second ma
turc Ii would have been all but impossible TO mako
the Israetes believe that God did their sacr-
ncca The next best thing was to secure safe path
tor that tendency; hence II was that the sacrinccs
the people were used TO bringing In Egypt continued
TO be brought but not 10 evil spirits and demons but
TO the living God who brought them out of Egypt.
Thus you sec God did not originate sacridccs did
Moses 1t was human nature Ii measure OF
expedlcncya ada ed 10 the social and mental
condition OF the lsraeitcs at that time. And
adays, even while we pray Tor the rcsoratiou let us
acknow edge that altar We all Of have much to DO
grateful Tor; for all your favors, thcn bring
ceptable Offering.