The New York herald., 1879-02-09
TEMPLE AHAWATH CHESED.

THE BOOKS OF JOB AND ECCLEsIAsrEs SERMON
By RABBI HUEBsCH.
Rabbi Huebsch delivered q sermon in tho Temple
Ahawath Chesed. Lexington avenue. yesterday. tax.
ing his text from Ecclesiastes xii. l3-'The end Of
the matter is. let hear the whole: Fear God and
keep His commandment for this is the whole man."
There are two books said the rabbi in that encyclop
dia called the Bible. which are distinguished for their
peculiar characteristic Book of Job and the Book Of
Eccesiastes. We find in them what we would never
expect TO find in the columns Of inspired liter.
ature. The boldest sceptcism utters there in the
strongest expressions its most cutting thoughts and
sentiments. These two peculiar books give evidence
that scepticism in religious matters is not
ton of modern date: IL is to be traced back the
Oldest times. Furthermore. an accurate perusal Of
these books convince the unbiased reader that
the arsenal of scepticism was stored in the olden
times with the arms in modern times.
There you find the blunt club Of the uu-
scrupulous atheist:-"What the Almighty
that we should Him? And what profit
shall have we pray to. Hima And
there you find the sharp lancet OF anti-religious
thing came from the dust and everything returns 70
the dust. Who knows whether the spirit Of the
sons Of man aseends upward and the 8, spirit Of the
scattered all the prickes of frivolous questions
with which human levity presumes to conquer the
been very sorry miss these two books In tho
Bible They do not only tell the old tale of religious
doubt
religion Stunned and never feared the attacks
PROVIDENCE OF COPS JUSTICE.
The book of Job of the most important Ques-
tons that the human reason could raise; the Prov
idence of God and His Justice blameless. pious
and God fearing man is hurled from the height Of
his prosperity the lowest depths Of wretchedness
and misery His friends from afar come to console
him. They form kind OF dvan. The unfortunate
man makes his complaint; and his friends protest
Gods justice believing the sins OF the sufferer to b
accountable for his sufferings. The poor man recalls
lie and private life, ana finds nothing there but nno-
cence. benevolence and magnanmity. His friends
He knows of none. Thus the case is
pending between the two questions Is mans fate
left to blind chance. without any super1ntendence OF
q higher providence, is every misfortune evi.
dence of guiti In the last chapters Of this book
majestic picture is unroed befooA our eyes. We are
led through the secret chambers of creation. From
the wonders Of nature the undenable evidence Of
Gods providence and wisdom is taken. To doubt IL
were to deny the fabric Of the universe. Man
not comprehend II, but 10 compelled to acknowl-
edge gSa it. otbe, boo. noces,.s.os though !, ur,.
sents itself under the name OF the "son Of
David" is Of much moro recent date It belongs
to late period. when Greek levty had made its way
into the promised land and found many admirers
followers among the younger OF the ancient people
OF Israel. In Eccesiastes hear earnest voice
protesting against the idol Of Greek materialism.
which was then modern as 1t Is now. This book
does not speculate on metaphysical questions and
brood the suffering OF the innocent 1t places
before our eyes an individual OF the highest social
rank. whose means to command pleasure are mex
haustible and whose thirst for It Is quenchless.
After every drsught from tho foaming cup of Joy
he pours forth his shallow reflections. which are
philosophy but which in fact the undis-
ciplned phantasms OK an intoxicated imagination.
As long youth and vgor last the picture has rather
o seductive effect. We the young wording
growing old before our eyes, The cup Of pleasure i
still in his hand; but all the wisdom of futile
pleasure out TO have been folly. Man goes to
his eternal home the dust returns to the earth. but
the spirit appear before the God who created it.
There is the end. "Canst thou face it," said the
rabbi in conclusion with the cup of sham pleasures
IN Inv haudY'