New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-11

Thus the immediate possession of everything wa
given them. and its perpetual enjoyment secured
u their descendants, condition OF abstaining
from the fruit Of the tree II knowledge OF good
aud evil" It IL altogether mmateral to my present
remarks whether the narrative is to be understood
in literal or allcgorical sense not only the
kaorledge but the possession Of created good was
granted the fruit Of the tree could confer upon
them no know ledge bu, tina, OF evil and the com
msnd was nothing more than 10 abstain from tina,
knowledge-to !orbear from rushing upon their own
destruction. Il is not Sufficient to say that this
was r command in its own nature light and easy
it was command to pursue the only law Of their
nature TO Keep the happiness that had been beaped
upon them without measure but observe-it con-
tained the principle Of oIrdieuce-it was assigned
to them as duty--sud .he heaviest Of penalties
was denounced upon its transgression They were
not to discuss the wisdom, or justice Of this COM
mand they were not 20 inquire why it had been
enforced upon them, nor could they have the
slightest possible motive for the inquiry unqualified
felicity aud Immortality were already theirs; wretch
edness and death were alone forbidden them, but
placed within their reach merely trials Of their
obedience. They violated the law; they forfeited
their Joy, aud Immortality; they =" brought into the
world, death, and all our woe" Here. then, is an
extreme case in which the mere principle Of ODE
dence could be tried, and command TO abstain
from that from which every motive Of reason and
interest would have deferred had the command
never been given--a command given in the easiest
of all possible FORM requiring not much as an &C.
ton of any kind. but merely forbeagancei and its
transsresson Yves so-severey punished, the only
inference We can draw from it is that the most ag-
gravated Of all crimes, and that which includes in
itself all others is dsobedience TO the will of God
Let us now consider how the principle of obedience
is inculcated in the history Of Abraham, by case
in the opposite extreme. God commanded Abra'
ham to abandon forever his country, as kindred
and his fathers house, to 60, he knew not where
PROMISING as q reward Of his obedience, to bless
him and bis posterity, though he was then child
less: he was required 70 renounce every thing that
could most contribute TO the happiness and comfort
of his life, and which was in his actual enjoyment
to become a houseless, friendess wanderer upon
the earth on the mere faith OF the promise that
and should be shown him which bis descendants
should possess--that they should be great nation
and that through them oil mankind should receive
in future ages blessing. The obedience required
of Adam was merely TO retain all the blessings
be enjoy ed the obedience of Abraham vas to sac
rifce all that he possessed for the vague and dis
tant prospect of future compensation to his pos
terity the self control and selfdenisl required OF
Adam, was in itself the slightest that Imagination
can conceive,--but IT'S failure was punished by the
forfeiture OF all his enjnyments the fetdominion
to be exercised by Abraham was OF the most Sc
we're and painful kind its accomplishment VIII
ultimately be rewarded by the restoration oil all
that wrs forfeited by Adam. This restoration,
however was TO be obtained by no ordinary proof
of obedience; the sacrifice of mere personal b'es-
sings. however great could not lay the tounda'
t;,n far the redemption of mankind from death
,t,. voluntary submission of Jesus Christ 10 his
,,,d death ia the most excruciating and ignomini-
ous firm. was to consummate the great plan OF re
Jemption. but the submission oil Abraham to sscri-
6c, his beloved nod only son l'aac-toe child
,romised bv God himself and through whom all
The frsster promises were to be carried into elect
tho feoliocs OF nature. the parents bowels, were
all required to be sacrificed by Abraham to the olind
unouestioning principle OF obedience to the WIZ
Of God The blood OF lsaac was not indeed sned-
the hatchery OF an only son by the hand OF his
fa,her. was sacrfce which mercliol God dlh not
reooire to be completely executed but as an IN
stnoce of obedience il was imposed upon AGRA
ham and nothing less than the voice o. an Anse,
from Heaven could arrest ms uPatea arm a"c
,yi,bhod him from sheathirg his knie in the heart
Of his child. 1t was upon this testimonial OF ODE
dience. that q DIS promise Of redemption vas ex I
civ rene xei 70 Abraham la thy seed shall
all the nations of the earth he blessed, because
thou hast obryed my voice" Gen XXI u.
'''" JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.