The New York herald., 1879-09-21
TEMPLE BETHEL.

REWARD AND PUNIsHMENT-sERMoN By THE
REV. DR. K. KoHLEB.
Rev. DR.. Kohler preached yesterday before . large
audience in the Temple Beth e. the lesson of the
day being the twenty-sixth chapter Of Leviticus
Divine retribution. said the Doctor one of the
greatest and most vexatious problems of life.
The law offers abundance Of earthly blessing
peace and Gods blisstul presence as . re-
ward for righteousness and threatens disobedience
to the will Of God with all kinds of penalties, with
misery and suffering earth. Yet life fails sus-
tain rule but often shows the wicked enjoying
the greatest happiness and the good suffering tho
hardest lot As solution of this enigma the
speaker referred to Rsbbinical saying mentioning
three different views of life. One class Of people
are called ''the children OF the world They offer
their epicuresn system in the shape Of philosophy
which regards man as the inhabitant of our little
planet too insignificant . being in the vastness
of creation to be an object Of especial
its in the midst of millions Of
stars whirling through the immense space around
unespied centres OF light Il is foolish Thought.
or the earth's growth to be regulated by mans
moral conduct. But these we'll known arguments
move the world out of its track than the spider can
move the sun. The laws Of nature do their work
mans doings. stil he alone standing mp.
right IN the centre OF creation. and giving
to each ana eyerything ~ 1a, 81 fs e.. rank name
impresses on the six days work the seal OF Sab
batical perfection. He alone Is invited by tho
Creator to enjoy the gifts spread on the table of e
As before Joseph. sun. moon and stars bow to him
to acknowledge him as master on earth. For his
is the child in Gods houshoid-provided, however,
he acts like true child in accordance with the will
Of the Father. All the blessings offered arc his
wages for his work in the economy of the world
And to him IL this is not So II the ploughshare
a<xtt - n
the gold in his hand burns like hell nrc. and every
OF his possessions becomes before tho
heavenly throne for he then not only misses the
ward. but Life to him turns into . punishment.
curse
OPPOSING VIEWS.
The second class of people form the counterpartpf
the first Earthly life. they say, only shows the rule
of wickedness. the enjoyment OF the evil doers and
and righteous. You had better turn aside from this
yale OF tears the seat Of injustice live for the world
beyond. where goodness will triumph and pretty hnd
its reward These arc the wailings OF those nelan-
choly world despisers who desire to heaven
by selfmortincation and doleful self-humiliation.
But this view of religion In strongly refuted by
Judaism ss unnatural and untrue as the former.
Peace is promised reward to tho good. not only
the earth IL mans abode. and the body. the dwelling
of the immortal spirit, Is to be regarded holy
temple. The heavenly guest must not be left to
starve and soon Us sent back to his eter-
nal home, but rather feasted and honored by every
gift OF Gods blessing. TO be sure the belief in q
world OF eternal bliss where each toer is to earn
his final reward. is vital to the Jewish to any
other religion. But Judaism refrains from
unveiling what is forever hidden to mortal eye or
human comprehension. IL points To the foretaste OF
eternitys Happiness In this lite. 1t offers the prom
Use of divine peace to the righteous already
1t shows at Edcn's gate the flaming sword revolving
to ward of the Sinners and OH the other hand
and peace under the wings of the cherubim offered
to those who have struggled with the tiger and the
serpent In their own breast aud won the battle at
last.
Az to the third class, those who have heart to
advocate anything but what their fathers did and
believed, who. lacking all energy and selfreisnce.
shun every measure idea disturbing their
accustomed peace the speaker referred them to the
mighty and restless impulses and aspirations
exciting mans thirst for ever greater and
higher possessions. The stars, tho aud
the beasts OF the tropics remain wherc they are
bound by iron law. Mans law OF life is progress.
Even the child displays this In Its boundess energy
In its hatred of idencss and courage which gives
vance until lie has reached tho Infinite himself un-
al he is with the spirit OF truth, Of love aud Of
holiness.