Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-05-30
MR. ADAMS TO fIIS SON,

EXTRACTS From the letters Of JOHN QUiN-
Wy ADAMS to his Oldest son, written from Russia,
curing the mission to that country, and subsequent
printed without bis knowledge, or consent. We
are willing that the event of the next election.
should be decided by the parents of America when
they rise from the perusa ofthe following pages.
we quote them from paper published in one Of
the Northern States, during the last Presidential
canvass.
Extracts oflettcr, from John QUINCY Adams to his son.
I" In your letter of the 10th of January, to your
mother, you mention that you read to your aunt
chapter in the bible or section from DR.. Dod-
bridge, every day.-This information gave me great
pleasure for so strong is my veneration for the
Bible, so strong is my belief that when daily read
and medltated upon, it is of all books IN the world
that which contributes most to make men good,
WISE and happy ;'that the earlier my children begin
to read 1t, and the more steadily they pursue the
practice of reading it, throughout their lives, the
more lively and confident will be my hopes, that
they will prove useful citizens to their country, res
peciable members Of society," and real blessing 10
their parents.'
81 advise you, my son, in whatever YOU read.
and most of all in reading the Bible to remember.
that 1t is for the purpose of making you wiser and
more virtuous. | have. for myself for many wears.
made 1t practice, to read through the bible once
every year. have always endeavored to read il.
with the same spirit and temper Of mind, that now
recommend it to you that is, with the intention aid
desire, that it might contribute to my advancement
in wisdom and virtue. My desire is indeed very i'm
perfectly successful for like you and the Apostle
, Paul, lind law in my members. warning against
the law OF my mind. But as know it is my ma
ture to be imperfect, SO know it my duty to aim
: at perfection; and feeling and deploring my own
traties, can only pray Almighty God, for the aid
OF his spirit, to strengthen my good desire and sub
J,,or
every good and perfect gift tescendeth.
My custom is to read four or FIVE chapters of the
Bible, every morning, Immediately after rising from
bed. II employs me about an hour of my time and
& seems the most suitable manner Of beginning the day.
" Every time read the bible, understand some
E passages which never understood before.'
:" 1t IS essensial, my son, IN order that you may
go thro' life, with comfort to yourself and usefulness
to your felow-creatures, that you should form and
adopt certain rules and principles for the govern
ment OF our conduct and temper. Unless there be
such rules and principles, there will be numberess
occasions, on which you will have no guide for your
f government but your passions. 1t is the bible
/. you must learn these rules and principles
Speaking Of those parts of Scripture that appear
mysterious, he says: "All this is undoubtedly mar
vellous and above our comprehension. Much of it
is clearly fguratve and allegorical nor it is easv
to distinguish what part of it is to be understood in
9 literal, and what in symbolical sense but that
- which 1t imports us to understand is plain. The
. great and essential principles, on which our duties
- and enjoyments depend, are involved in our obseu-
rity."
"When one Of the personages in one of Terence,s
b comedies, the first time uttered in the Theatre the
IT line "Hono sun, ct human nil olienun, puto
r Il am man, and whatever concerns man cOncerns
mel an universal shout Of applause burst from the
/. whole audience, and we are told that in SO great
ri multitude Of Romans and Of deputies from the ma
4 tons. their subjects and allies there was not one in
10 divdua but felt in his heart the power of this no
70 bic sentiment Yet how feeble and defective is il,
or in comparison of the Christian commands of Char-
i ty. as unfolded in the dscourses of CHRIST, and
I enlarged upon in the writings of the Apostles. The
e. heart of man will always respond with rapture to
~ the sentiment when their is selfish no unsocia{
IL passion at work, to oppose it. But the command to
: lay 1t down as the great fundamental conduct Of
human life, and to subdue and sacrifice all the ty-
ranical and selfish passions to preserve it, this is the
peculiar and unfading glory of Christianity this
is conquest over ourselves. which, without the aid
of merciful GoD, none of US can achieve and
H. which it was worthy of his special interposton ia
~ enable us to accomplish
a ''ln nv last showed you, from the very words
IL of our Saviour, that he commanded his dsciples TO
aim at perfection and that this perfection consisted
in self-subugation and brotherly love, in the COM
pete conquest Of the passions, and 10 the practice.
nd of benevoIence to fellow creatures including
o. among them our most inveterate enemies.''
a 'You will there find proved the duty of totally
f. subduing the passions. 1t is sometimes objected.
s. that this theory is not adapted to the nfrnites Of
m human nature that it is not made for human be-
IL ing constituted man, that an earthen vessel is
not formed to dash against rock that in Weld
vi ing to the impulse of his passions. only follows
the dictates Of his nature; and that to subduc them