The herald., 1896-04-06

Wdut tO ucceiVo. OUCH IL tno U6sutnOuy
concerning the prince of life, whom God
hath raised from tho dead, whereof we are
witnesses; for experience of believers is a
| proof OF Christ's renewed life and resur-
rection. Had he not risen the comforter
would not be in the world today; but he is
here to make real the continued life of
Christ. Do we not also attest the fact in
ollr annual celebration of Easter of Christ's
recurring birthday from the tomb? Who
can explain the existence of the Christian
Sabbath or any other Christian institution,
except on the ground of Christ's triumph
over the grave? The Sabbath was certain
ly transferred from the seventh to the first
day of the week, because it became the
Lords day by virtue of his coming forth
immortal from the tomb on that day.
The Orthodox Hebrews
Rev. A. M. Edelman rabbi of the ortho-
dox Hebrew congregation, yesterday
preached all eloquent sermon, taking for
his subject, Why Was Israel Redeemed
from Egypt" The speaker said in part:
There is no greater event mentioned in
either ancient or modern history that can
be compared in power and greatness with
the exodus OF Israel from Egypt. Study
ing the works of our rabbs. one can easily
see that the Talmud and Medrashm con-
tain more legends, marvellous explanations,
more comments and illustrations upon
that event, than on all the other events
connected with that exodus. 1t appears,
indeed, that our forefathers regarded the
exodus, and more so the passage through
the Red sea, which is generally commem-
GRATED on the seventh day of Passover, of
greater Importance than all the wonders
that had happened before or after the exo-
dus. And why? Because they believed
that the redemption from Egypt was alto
gether the work OF the Almighty. Tho
people of Israel were perfectly helpless,
but ''they believed in God and in his serv-
ant Moses" and they followed their guild
ance and their advice. They saw that they
had to make the first struggle to maintain
themselves in freedom, and they became
brave in courage aud in spirit. And it was
indeed one of the greatest wonders that
| occurred at the exodus that they could
hold their position in that instance.
| But my beloved friends, it seems to me
| that hear some of you ask, what did our
| ancestors do that the Eternal should make
| What was their great virtue that he should
| speak so lovingly Of them? Why should
| the Lord God take band of slaves and
make them as the special guardians of that
moral code which was to guide the conduct
| of all mankind? The Midrssh answers
exodus was wrought upon Israel through
| the merit of four meritorious deeds.
First, because they did not change their
mode of living.
"Second, because they did not change
| their laws.
"Third. because they did not change their
! name.
Fourth, because they did not change
| their language"
Let me briefly illustrate to you these four
different virtues. First, "they did not
change their mode and custom of life,''
| Modest in their desires, their simple wants
we're very easily supplied. They knew that
| it was not the outer garb, nor the display
| of pomp which raised man i'm the sight of
| God; they therefore refrained and alb
stained from those ideas of luxury which
| so often tempt men to do evil.
The second merit for our ancestors de-
| liverance was "that they did not change
| their laws" Mixed as they were among
that idolatrous nation, slaves as they were
| to power that held them in thraldom, yet
did they never bow their knees to the false
gods of Egypt, nor did they ever follow its
idolatrous worship. In all these 400 years
which they passed In bondage they clung
with hope to the God of their fathers.
The third merit of our forefathers' de-
| liverance was "because they remained true
to their name" To what name? To the
name they inherited from Abraham, Isaac
| and Jacob. That honored name which
| was given to us by God. "Israel shall be
| thy name." And to which we in our pres.
ent age should ever be proud of. This
| honored name was to them as a banner of
hope and expectation. This great name
told them of faith in their God. obedience
to his precepts and love to all mankind.
Although degraded by slavery they we're
neither ashamed nor did they forget from
whom they were descended. Although
trodden down by oppression, although they
were subjected to the lash under their task
master, yet did they endure all rather than
to abandon the hope contained in that
name; they bore everything and remained
INN at hn Iok Off fhsai. IsxyaS
The fourth and last merit, which, ac-
cording to the Midrash, distinguished our
ancestors deliverance is, "they did not
change their language" Now, what Ian.
guage did our ancestors speak? Search
| the records of the lives of the patrarchs,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and you will
find that they spoke the Hebrew language,
a language distinguished by the simple
outpourings of pure heart, and the emo
tions of the truest love of all mankind; a
language which forms the tie between the
members of the Jewish race, scattered, as
they are. through every cline. From this
language the slaves in Egypt did not de-
part. 1t was their mother tongue; they
spoke it in time of joy and in their day of
hard trial, and they clung to it until the
day of their redemption.
Let us, then, my friends, endeavor at all
times to emulate the teachings of our rab-
bis of the Talmud and Midrashim of old.
Let lis not change our mode of living, let
our ways of life he simple, pure and holy.
Let us never change our faith, let us cling
to the law which we have received, through
our forefathers, from Mount Sinai. Let
/ the name of Israel, given by God to our
patriarch Jacob. never he changed. Re-
member, that this name was to our
| fathers the great banner of hope and eX-
! pectation, and that it always taught them
faith to God, obedience to his precepts and
! love to all mankind. And last, but not
least, let us never change the language of
| our fore-fathers. Let us teach that Ian
giiage to our children, so that in time of
+! need it may do them some good. Then,
| and only then. will the name and faith
of Israel be known, honored and respected.
will break asunder the letters of bigotry
SONS of men. Then will we work out q re-
demption which will liberate all humanity
from the tyranny of false worship. re-
demption that will teach all mankind the
true doctrines OF religion, namely, g re-
ligion of universal love and universal
brotherhood. A redemption that wilt make
known the love of God to the most distant
and further bounds of tho earth. A re.
demption that all will sing the words of
Moses, "The Lord God is my song, my
strength and my saivaton;" "He is my
God, and will declare his praise: he is
the God of my fathers. and l wilt exa!t
him." And finally, we will work out a rs-
demption where all will acknowledge the
words of the prophet Iachariall: 'On that
glorious day will the Eternal God, The God
OF Israel. the God Of our fathers, the Uni