Never miss an Opportunity for doing good. (Preached on 143 God protects our Fatherland. (Preached on the Day of Humilia- tion and Prayer, as appointed by Her Majesty in Council, to be The Synagogue and the Organ. (Preached on the re-consecration of the West London Synagogue of British Jews, Margaret- street, and on the Inauguration of the Organ, September 20th, The Lord looketh to the Heart. (Preached during the Morning Service of the Day of Atonement, 5619, September 18th, 1858.) 252 SERMONS. I. TRUE ZEAL WHICH GOD APPROVES, AS CONTRADISTINGUISHED FROM FALSE ZEAL, WHICH GOD REJECTS. Preached before the Congregation of British Jews of Manchester, on the Sabbath after the laying of the first stone of their New Synagogue, n 'I (D, 1 KINGS, xix. 14. .1857 ,14 .Mar תרין לפיק ויאמר קנא קנאתי ליי אלהי צבאות "And he said, I am exceedingly zealous for the Lord God of Hosts." BRETHREN!-Having been honored by an invitation from the Committee of your Congregation to preach before you, I could not hesitate for a moment to comply with the request. Some thought, however, was required with respect to the selection of a subject, so as to make a single sermon bear with the greatest practical effect on the holy work in which you are now embarked. Revolving in my mind what I have witnessed during the few days I have spent amongst you, I cannot doubt the existence of much earnestness for the improved mode of worship you are about to introduce; and, as I am impressed B with the belief that your zeal takes its rise in the purest motives, perhaps I can render you no better service than by endeavouring to direct that sentiment to rational and legitimate objects, so that it may conduce to the love of God and to the love of mankind. My discourse, then, will be on Zeal, its virtues and its vices, its advantages and its abusesthe things that it should embrace and those which it ought to avoid; and for this theme ample materials are afforded in the prophetic words of the text, "I am exceedingly zealous for the Lord God of Hosts." The self-same words occur twice in the chapter; but, to my thinking, they are uttered on the second occasion in a more chastened and in a far holier spirit than they were pronounced on the former one. Elijah has undergone severe trials in his honest attempt to discharge his mission; but he has had little or no success. There has been nothing selfish in his exertions; for the fear of God and the permanent benefit of the house of Israel have been his ruling motives, and yet no fellow mortal has aided him in his task. Far from this, those who might have shared with him the burden, have been struck down by the irresponsible hand of a tyrant, whilst he, Elijah, the only surviving prophet, has been proscribed, and hunted from place to place, only to witness the altar of God thrown down, and the idolatrous altar of Baal set up. His powers of endurance are well nigh spent, his stout heart begins to fail, and he looks to the grave where he may lie down in peace. Whilst the prophet is thus plunged in grief, and all is dark and dreary within him, the |