Triunfo da união contra o pernicioso vicio da discordia (Triumph of Union against the Pernicious Vice of Discord)

Victory, Victory (oh most worthy congregation) Victory, not only once but many times shall I say and repeat that word, for it is such a joyous day for this entire, dear congregation, to be able to preach about victory! And what more joyous day than today, for we are favored and honored with the worthy presence of the ecclesiastical estate, both the venerable presence of the very eminent, most wise and erudite Mr. Wigboldus Rasvelt, outstanding preacher of the national church of this island, and two very illustrious gentlemen, Philip Schonenboom and Pieter de Mey Lourensz, most worthy regents of the said church. What more joyous day, than that on which, by divine grace and infinite mercy, we have triumphed over the greatest enemy of our soul, namely dissension and discord, which have (for our great sins) reigned among us for so long. And what happier or more joyous day than today, for I see confirmed in us the Psalm of David: How good and how pleasant it is that brothers dwell together in unity (Psalms 133:1).

Therefore, if today (dearest brethren) we find ourselves united together in this holy house, there is no more propitious day than today to intone a song of victory. And if we have achieved it through infinite grace and divine mercy, what words shall we employ to give praise to divine mercy for making us deserving of this kindness? What words would be more appropriate than the opening words of my theme? Thus, I (even though I be the lowest and least worthy minister of this sacred congregation) shall continually repeat them for all to hear: I will recount the kind acts of the Lord (Isaiah 63:7).

And if we must all render due thanks to his sovereign greatness, the prime cause of everything, for continued benefactions that we have always enjoyed and are particularly enjoying now, we are no less duty bound to pay tribute for what we have received and pay filial thankfulness to our gracious and most serene prince, may God protect him. For his highness was the instrument which God sought out so that peace and reconciliation among the members of this congregation could be achieved. And if the heart of potentates is in the hands of God (as Solomon says), and He as absolute master bends them to wherever He wishes. Like channeled water is the mind of the king in the Lord’s hand (Proverbs 21:1), since the benign heart of our most serene prince lies in the hands of God and since it is God who inclined his heart to favor us, unto his highness, like unto God, we must render thanks for this favor—to God as the prime and efficient cause, and to his highness, as the second and instrumental cause.

Our thanks today should also go to the most noble gentleman, our governor and to the most worthy gentlemen of his venerable council for the great zeal and prudence with which they have always undertaken to extinguish the conflagration of our domestic disputes.

And if the most worthy gentlemen of the Mahamad [board of governors], of Congregation T[almud] T[orah] of the illustrious city of Amsterdam, with its distinguished deputies, had not shown less zeal, or less fervor in seeking this peace, we would also be justifiably obliged to make manifest today (in token of our immense gratitude) our courteous and rendered thanks.

That being the case, dearest brethren, that by divine mercy we are all here together in this holy temple, it does not seem to me appropriate today to show the obligation that we have to live in unity, for it is sufficient just to consider this obligation of ours not only as a divine precept, but also as a mandate from on high issued by that eminent hero to whom we all owe the greatest kindness. What this gracious prince commands us is as though God were commanding us. And if to put an end to disputes in the school of Pythagoras, it was sufficient to say Ipse dixit: the Master has spoken thus, how can I imagine that there be anyone who would refuse to obey one who holds such sway and has such good reason to command us? Let the vindictive allege that it is impossible to restrain themselves. Let the worldly cry out that it is vileness not to pursue vengeance. Let the one who prides himself on being so noble that his glory suffers unless he avenges himself—offer a rejoinder. And, finally, let the statesman cite that which the world calls the law of honor—for, in the sight of such a Supreme God who commands us and in the sight of such a powerful prince who commands us, let us reconcile with our neighbors, since there are not nor can there be any other laws that are preponderant.

Thus, with just cause, I say that it is inappropriate to deal today with a matter that is so clear as to require no proof. My pledge today will be only to indicate the ways we must seek to ensure that this peace be permanent and that this reconciliation be lasting. To this end, I shall divide my discourse into two points. In the first one, I shall point out that we must forsake hatred, which, heretofore, has caused us to harm one another. And in the second, we shall see that, in order to relinquish hatred, we must forget the grievances committed against us by our neighbors. God helps us all with His divine assistance. For me to prove the rightness of such an important point and for my audience to be persuaded of such a veritable subject [I now proceed with my discourse].