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PROFESSOR A. D£ SOLA, PH.D. •'These are the generations of Noah : Noah was a righteous man, and per- fect in his generations ; and Noah walked with God." — Gen. vi. 9. Brethren ! — The concluding portion of last week's Parashah, as well as the initial verses of that which we have read to-d.ay, present a dark and humiliating picture of the wickednes'j of antediluvian man. We find this wickedness to have been so extreme, that Scripture, accommodating its language to human mode of expression, informs us " it repented God He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at his heart." Therefore, He determined utterly to destroy every living thing, " from man unto beast." Noah however found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And the words of the text supply the reason why Noah thus found favor in the divine Light. He was '^a righteous roan and perfect in his generations." Referring to this iteration of expression in the text, Aben Ezra remarks '^Noah was righteous" in his actions, and " perfect" in his heart, and this not only in the generation of the flood, but in succeeding gene- rations ; for he lived until Abraham had attained his fifty-eighth year.* "And, therefore," adds Nachmanides, with most of the ♦ We are reminded of this fact by the following very ingenious mtmoria other commentators, "was he deemed worthy to be saved from the flood ; for the righteous shall not fail to appear guiltless when in judgment; while the reverse shall be the case with the wicked, in accordance with the principle laid down by the law. (Deut. XXV. 1,) 'They shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked !' " " And Noah's children," continues this learned teacher, " were also saved through his merits ; for it would have been a punishment to Noah had they been cut off with the wicked, among whom indeed they could not be classed, since their father taught them by precept and example, so that they became righteous like himself. Noah, then, eminently deserved the glorious assurance he received from the Eternal "rrtn ^nK o nin ina 'jaS pnx that him alone had God seen righteous before him, notwithstanding there had lived many generations since man first commenced to corrupt his way on the earth. And, there- fore, the Medras Eabba, quoting from Proverbs xiv. 11, reminds us, * The house of the wicked was to be overthrown, but the tent of the upright was to flourish.' " Bearing in mind these teachings of our sage commentators, so pregnant with pious reflection and spiritual profit, we will now for a brief space inquire in what the righteousness of Noah con- sisted, and then referring to our own times and circumstances, see how it should influence our own conduct as Israelites and as members of the great human family. Turning to the sacred nar- rative for a solution of the first question we have proposed, we find that Noah's righteousness consisted in both his faith and prac- tice. And first, we have to consider Noah's faith* He lived among a people universally corrupt. T\nnm rum y^vm nx cn^K Ky\ All the then inhabited portions of the world presented to the eye of Omniscience a moral desert with but one small oasis — even that which was covered by the tent of tlie righteous Noah. Every religious precept and rule of conduct that had yet been revealed to man were openly and generally violated. As a consequence, the moral and mental deterioration of the race went rapidly on, and all perception of the good and the wise, of the right and the true, became impossible to them ; and they sunk to the lowest level that humanity can attain. But difierent indeed with Noah and his household. Within the puter precincts of that more faithful home could none of the abominations of their aban- doned contemporaries find place. Engaged in deducing from "what had been already revealed, jet farther important religious truths, the effects of such an occupation we can be at no loss to divine ; and so elevated and spiritualized did Noah become that, when the end of all flesh was revealed to him, he could at once believe and acknowledge the justice of the divine fiat. But, as for the corrupt race around him, can we not imagine the in- effable disdain with which they received the tidings of the threatened flood? Can we not almost hear the contemptuous laugh and blasphemous jest, which replied to every exhortation of Noah to reformation ? He, a dotard, might believe ; but why should they? True, brethren, why should they? they whoso carnal minds could not be raised above earthly things; who saw nature pursuing its course in one uniform manner ; the rains of heaven descending not to destroy, but to fructify and bless ; tht» rivers and the lakes confined within bounds they could not over- run, — how could minds such as theirs believe in any change, in something the like of which they had never seen, and of which they could form no other conception, but of increased doubt and unbelief? Noah alone stands aloof from the scoffing unbe- lievers. Pre-eminent in faith, he alone " was a righteous man, perfect in his generations." And what brethren, was the practice of Noah ? If you will but examine the scriptural details of the size and form of the ark he was directed to make, you will find that an almost impos- sible task lay before the venerable patriarch. He had not been blessed like some of his predecessors and contemporaries with many sons. Three only could respond to his call for aid in his undertaking. And yet, with a perseverance, unequalled perhaps in all history, he labored with his three sons on this ark, which as modern men of science have conclusively shown, was not only capable of containing many more than the inhabitants assigned to it, but the most expert mathematician could not assign the proportions of a vessel better accommodated for its purpose. In the great labor bestowed; in the immense cost incurred; in re- 6 sisting the interruptions, and overcoming tbe obstacles thrown in his way by the scoffing sinners around him ; and finally, ia en- trusting himself with his wife and family, in a vessel the capabi- lity of which to stem the turbulent manes of a mighty £ood, he necessarily had no means of ascertaining — in all these things see we clearly that the practice of Noah, not less than his faith, entitled him to the proud cognomen of " a righteous man, perfect in his generations." And now, brethren, we would proceed to ask how this beha- vior of Noah should affect our own conduct as Israelites, and as members of the human family. It were scarcely needful to re- mind you that as the peculiar people, selected to fulfil the glo- rious vocation of missionaries of the Most High to the world, it devolves upon you, even more than did it upon Noah, to exhibit in faith and deed the fullest appreciation of your grand destiny. And while, like Noah, you strive to be perfect with the Lord your God, you must also exhort to faithfulness those amongst you, who too fondly attach themselves to the world, and for its empty honors and hollow triumphs will barter all, that can give them a claim to the proudest of all titles — that of an Israelite, and seem but too anxious to deny a descent the most ancient, and the most aristocratic, the world can show — even that from the princely Abraham ; and all this for the shadow and the tinsel, which can never ultimately satisfy. Such carnal-minded degene- rates, worthy compeers of the corrupt race of the flood, unable to lift their infatuated gaze from earth, can neither see nor under- stand aught that is above their restricted vision. They cannot un- derstand that, if they are "righteous" as Israelites, they may yet be "perfect" in the discharge of all the duties devolving upon them as citizens of the world. But, my hearers, for our part, we will not be thus wilfully blind. We will examine our history as a people, and we shall find that, from the period of the earliest progenitors of our race, a strict observance of all the require- ments of Israel's religion has ever been found by our fathers to be quite compatible with the fullest and most sealoas dis- charge of their duties as citizens of the various Gentile states in which their lot has been cast. We will not stop to notice how this compatibility has extended even to the discharge of the highest administrativo functions, such as in the cases of Joseph in Egypt, Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai in Bahylonia and Versia, and in more modern times, Aharbanel in Spain ; to-day wo wouUl rather refer to living instances. Well, brethren, during the pre- sent week we have all learned with much gratification, that the corporation of London, have voted the freedom of the city and an address to Sir Moses Montefiore.* Now, who is thifi man, on whom a city, the first in the world, bestows a distinction which, as the address informs us, "has from time immemorial been voted to distinguished naval commanders, to renow.ied soldiers, and statesmen," in Christian Great Britain, "who have prized the honor exceedingly ?" Not being one of these, was the honor * It is a cheering sign of the times when a Christian jou'nalistcan publish, and his readers endorse, sentiments like the following, contained in the *' Mon- treal Herald " of 6th November : — Pbesentatiox of thk Fbkebom of the City of London to Sir Moses Montefiore. — English papers, recently received, contain accounts of the presentation of an address accompanying the gift of t'ae freedom of the City of London to the eminent Jewish philanthropist, Sir Moses Montefiore. Wo reproduce with much pleasure, the address of the Lord Mayor, and the reply of Sir Moses, not as mere ordinary news items, but as oxhibiting one of the most remarkable triumphs of the cause of civil and religious liberty, which it has fallen to our lot to record. For be it remarked, thu t this spontaneous token of respect, this expression of the esteem and good- will of the citizens of the world's metropolis, is accorded to one of the mopt rigidly orthodox members of the Jewish church that could well be found, while on a more lax adherent of the ancient faith similar honors have not yet been bestowed. It speaks volumes, then, for the good taste, the liberality and the enlightenment of the Corporation of the great city, that they so ref.dily and so handsomely recog- nise the merits and virtues of the man, not as r. follower of the popular religion, but as a cosistent adherent of another creed. "To you. Sir Mosetf Montefiore," cays the address, "a distinguished member of the Hebrew community, this great city has voted a resolution of thanks exprer sive of their approval of the consis- tent course you have pursued for a long se.-ies of years," &c. Wethink we are not over-estimating the importance of the event on which we are commenting, if we consider it as an edditional assurarice that " the world still moves," and that men are daily discovering more and more, — that, though of diverse creeds and nationalities, they may yet put aside minor differences of opinion and dogma, sink the odium theologicum, and walk hand in hand together, to du the great work, which patriu Jsm and philanthropy point out. We now subjoin the address, which we can well imagine is regarded with the most lively satisfaction by the recipient's conforming brethren, as it will be by every true friend of civil and religious liberty. 6 bestowed, because his gold and silver are much, his honses many, and his lands broad exceedingly ? Nay, not so, but because mindful of the teaching of his igion, he has freely dispensed of his great substance — not in the mere fripperies and follies of the world, or in what would minister to vanity and display, but in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, erecting houses of prayer, remembering thee, Jerusalem ! establishing schools for the ignorant, hospitals for the sick, honses of industry for the unemployed, homes of refuge for the needy and decayed, and all this without limitation of place or cost. Again, was he thus dis- tinguished, because Queen, Emperor, Sultan and Czar, have each and all delighted to show him honor ? Nay, but because, he had only sought them, not for his own exaltation, but, as the address reminds us, " to alleviate the sufferings of his co-religionists, and at the same time to alleviate tho sufferings and miseries of people of all creeds and denominations." Ay, he forgot not the law which his great prototype Moses commanded, " thou shall love the stranger," nor the instructions of Israel's teachers to help the sick and the miserable, be they Jew, or Gentile. Was he thus honored, brethren, because unmindful of the claims of his religion, he lived only for this world, and, by display, sought to obtain higher honors than had ever been accorded to his co-religionists ? Nay, none knew better than that court, that the highest honor the recipient had ever sought during his long career was that, which a hearty and unmistakeable identification with his religion and people afforded him. His consistent course is especially referred to in the address. When himself discharg- ing high civic functions, his table proved that he was not un- mindful of the dietary obligations of his religion. And, when England's Queen, desirous of giving an especial mark of her royal favor, bestowed on him the privilege of bearing supporters to his arms — limited only to peers of the realm, and a few others — the word oStsni* in Hebrew characters, prominent on these supporters, showed how he appreciated the royal distinction ; and it is a recorded fact, that his choice was honored with the special approval of our good Queen. To such a man, then — to this strictly conforming and uncompromising Israelite is it that the address and honor have b«en voted. He it is, whom the 9 address assures us the great city " thought worthy to reoeive the tribute of their respect and admiratioii." Be it then our most earnest endeavor ever to lead the consist- ent, UDCompromising Jevrish life. True, we are not called upon to proclaim ouv faithfulness from the house-tops, nor to declare our orthodoxy at the street corners ; but we certainly are required by every feeling of aelf-respect, consistency, and duty, not to swerve from the strict boundary lino laid down for us — not to flaunt our mcan-spiritedness and degeneracy in the faces of those, who can only regard with cold contempt the sacrifices of prin- ciplo made to obtain their favor and applause. Then, let us act wisely and well our parts. Let us remember that, though on account of our grievous sins our national glory hath departed, and we are in many places yet the victims of contumely and oppression, we have still a bright light beaming upon us, even that which erst was kindled on Sinai's Mount ; and we have the cheering voice of prophecy to assure us, that our vocation shall be completely fulfilled. Who, indeed, can read the glorious words of to-day's Haphtorah, and not feel that this is so. Saith the eloquent Isaiah, >'2pN D'bnj D'om^i yna?;? \\i^ ;?Ji3 " For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mer- cies will I gather thee." Let us then cultivate the faith and imitate the practice of Noah. Let us believe, even though there be amongst us those who, like Noah's contemporaries, are too carnal-minded to do more than ask the " how" and the "when" — let us have full faith in our future, in the restoration, in the "gathering" that is promised to us. Farther, as Noah firmly believed in the coming of the flood, although its advent was delayed for more than a century after its announcement, so let us not less implicitly believe in that coming day of judgment, even though it be delayed until our bones, and even the tombstones, that mark our last resting-place, shall have returned to their original elements — that Nniji Sna or "great and tremendous day," when we shall each and all have to meet the eye of an omniscient Judge, and listen to the irrevocable sentence He shall pass on our faith and deeds in this life. Then, happy we, if not wilfully blinding ourselves as did the generaition of the flood, we have lived the life of preparation, securing for ourselves the 10 means of safety the holy volume has revealed to us. Oh, happy vre, if we have huilt us up an ark, in which we can with confi- dence commit our soul when it floats from its present earthly tenement on the waves of eternity to final judgment. Doubtless, brethren, in our persistent strivings to build up our spiritual ark, and in our contempt for all worldly luree, we shall earn for ourselves the hate of all the mere worldlings in our midst, whom by implication our conduct will condemn, and who will, therefore, freely bestow upon us such epithets as madmen, enthusiasts, and fanatics. But, like Noah, we must stand firm, and desist not in our task until it is finished. And in this work must wo, like Noah, closely associate with us our children, or else will they rise up against us on the dread day of judgment, and accuse us, as we can imagine the children of the flood to have accused their parents when their doom was before them. Yes, brethren, cannot we hear even above the voice of the mighty Avaters, and the opening of the windows of heaven, and the break- ing up of the fountains of the great deep, the agonized reproaches of those perishing children, " Why have you made no prepara- tion for this — why have you not warned us — why have you not believed in God's messenger, and why have you not counselled us to believe? Brethren, God grant that on the great day there be no cause thus to reproach us. But on the contrary, when we feel our last hour is come, when the coldness of dissolution is spreading over us, and this world is fast fading from us with all its fleeting joys and sorrows, oh ! may it be the chief solace, the sweetest comfort of such a moment to reflect that, like Noah, we have not prepared an ark for ourselves alone but for the saving of our household also, and have taught them by faith and prac- tice, by an undeviating, consistent following of the saving doc- trines of Judaism, to live for another and better estate, to save, themselves while the avenging waves are engulphing the wicked and impenitent, around them. Then shall we see realized in us the generations of the righteous, which our pious sages tells us are chiefly their good deeds, D'aita D't^yo D'pnjf hvf on-nnSm yy. Let us now close, my hearers, by entreating you earnestly to strive at all times to earn for yourselves the proud title: the Scrip- ture bestows on Noah, pnjf vr» " a perfect man." Do you, breth- . '■ mmmmf ^^mmmmf 11 ren, closely pursue righteousness for its o?rn sake alone, and by a strict, uncompromising adherence to Israel's law and Inrael's faith obtain the esteem of your fdlow-men, and the approval of your God ? vnma rrn O'on " Noah was perfect in his generations.'' Join to a strict observance of your religious obligations, a full and conscientious discharge of all those duties that devolve upon you as members of the one great, human family ; do this not because your predecessors have gained earthly honors from such a course, or because contemporaries have in a signal manner obtained Gentile applause, but because Dipon nn UD'n nnu nman nntcf '73 ijD'n nnu " He whom the spirit of man approves, the spirit of God approves." Finally, nj i^nnn D'hSkh nx "Noah walked with God." Saith the prophet Micah, " He hath showed thee, man, what is good ; and what doth the Eternal require of thee, but to do justly, and to love ttercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Here, brethren, have we both precept and example. And, may God bless them to us, so that we may find safe refuge, and ever- lasting salvation in Him 1?;; jntti and the ark of his strength. Amen. 1^