aves the synagogue for his home an angel of good and an angel
of evil accompany him. If he finds the table spread in his house, the
Sabbath lamps lighted, and his wife and children in festive garments
ready to bless the holy day of rest, then the good angel says:--

"May the next Sabbath and all thy Sabbaths be like this. Peace unto this
dwelling, peace;" and the angel of evil is forced to say, "Amen!"

But if the house is not ready, if no preparations have been made to
greet the Sabbath, if no heart within the dwelling has sung, "Come, my
beloved, to meet the bride; the presence of the Sabbath let us receive;"
then the angel of evil speaks and says:--

"May all thy Sabbaths be like this;" and the weeping angel of goodness,
responds, "Amen!"

Samson sinned against the Lord through his eyes, as it is written, "I
have seen a woman of the daughters of the Philistines.... This one take
for me, for she pleaseth in my eyes." Therefore through his eyes was he
punished, as it is written, "And the Philistines seized him, and put out
his eyes."

Abshalom was proud of his hair. "And like Abshalom there was no man as
handsome in all Israel, so that he was greatly praised; from the sole of
his foot up to the crown of his head there was no blemish on him. And
when he shaved off the hair of his head, and it was at the end of every
year that he shaved it off, because it was too heavy on him so that he
had to shave it off, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred
shekels by the king's weight." Therefore by his hair was he hanged.

Miriam waited for Moses one hour (when he was in the box of bulrushes).
Therefore the Israelites waited for Miriam seven days, when she became
leprous. "And the people did not set forward until Miriam was brought in
again."

Joseph buried his father. "And Joseph went up to bury his father." There
was none greater among the children of Israel than Joseph. Moses
excelled him afterward, however; therefore we find, "And Moses took the
bones of Joseph with him." But the world has seen none greater than
Moses, therefore 'tis written, "And He (God) buried him in the valley."

* * * * *

When trouble and sorrow become the portion of Israel, and the
fainthearted separate from their people, two angels lay their hands upon
the head of him who withdraws, saying, "This one shall not see the
comfort of the congregation."

When trouble comes to the congregation it is not right