The New York herald., 1878-11-24
THIRTY-FOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.
RELIGION THE FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE


SERMON DY REV. HENRY s. JACOBS.
The sermon preached yesterday in the Synagogue
of the Bnai Jcshurun congregation. Thirty-fourth
street by its minister, Rev. Henry s. Jacobs. was
based the Scriptural lesson of the day, the text
selected being from Genesis xiv. 3. +"Thou shalt
not take a wife unto my son from the daughters of
the Canaanites among whom dwell. But unto my
country and to my birthplace shalt thou 60 and take
a wife unto my son, unto Isaac"
The chapter which precedes the from which
am quoting. said the preacher. presents us with q
melancholy picture Sarah is dead and her aged
partner is stricken with grief at the affection which
has befallen him. The who had cheered his weary
pilgrimage is taken away. and darkness has fallen
the home which once bright with holy
joys that the Medrash says. in It's peculiar style,
whilst Sarah lived the cloud of glory abode in Abra
hams tent, but when she died it departed" The
patriarch himself from his grief and buries
his dead out of his sight in the purchased from
the Of Heth. which has since become of the
most hallowed spots earth. The duty to the dead
performed he turns his thoughts to the living.
Isaacs future claims his earnest regard. and he
deavors with tender parental socitude to for
with the connubial state and his very next act is
recorded in the twenty fourth chapter and sum-
married. in the words Of the text.
MARRIAGE AS AN ELEMENT OF SOCIETY.
Marriage is an important element in the consti-
tuition OF human society one of its strongest bull
warks, one on which the moral welfare Of our race
largely depends. It is the pivot on which . whole
life revolves. and is an essential condition Of that
mundane felicity, which is
Our bcing's end and aim
For which we bear to live, or dare to de
But to accomplish these great ends it must be
based religious sentiment. and hence it s that
Judaism esteems it as divine obligation which has
all the sanctions OF Gods authority and blessing It
in this light regarded by Abraham, and, there
fore. his anxiety that his son Isaac should secure
ar<r, ochar ha
models of religious excellence which afford the best
guarantees Of connubial happiness. He knew the
that the nuptial tie contracted with one of them
would wreck all hopes centred in the no loved
dearly.
Abraham was right. The proof Is patent to our
solves that the marriage which sets ut defiance oil
ligious obligations is blunder which becomes
crime. However 1t may begin IL s always to end
in misery ruin and disaster. Without the right
Foundation it is but a house built on sand which
cannot Withstand the storm. but succumbs to tho
blast which will overthrow all its hopes. Religion
must be the basis Of the nuptal tie. otherwise there
liz nought on earth which can bind the man and the
woman lastingly
ask you. continued the preacher. to heed the
instruction Of the text. Those of you who may
template entering the holy estate Of matrimony
should pause and reflect the advice offer you.
over the examples with which your own experience
can furnish you. Beware Of contracting any union
which Judaism repudates rs contrary to its laws
and teachings. We may have apprehensions Of be-
ing led into such close relationships with the
ites the literal sense for they exist longer but
besccch you to remember and appreciate the prnci-
pie which guided Abraham in his parental desires for
his child's happiness That principle was afterward
violated by Esau, and what do we read in holy Scrip
ture 7 These women who worshipped strange gods
became grief of mind to Isaac and to Rebekah."
DAUGHTERS OF IsRAEL.
Daughters of Israel be careful too in this matter
Perhaps concerns more than the other that
your marriage should have the foundation Of reh-
gion for 1t il essentially the important question of
woman happiness. its results for her of
higher consequences. Your entire future may be
made or marred on the venture It means o success
full voyage with prospcring Winds peaceful haven
reached. sheltered from tempest and from storm-as
IL means shpwreck and irretrievsble disaster bid
you then regard carefully and prudently the lesson
which the text suggests and when you do join hand
and heart in wedocks bonds make religion the
guardian. the foundation OF marriage