New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-11
LETTERS
FROM HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS TO HIS son
on The BIBLE AND ITS TEACHINGS
LETTER Ill.


The second general point of view, in which pro
pse for YOU to consider the Bible, to the end that
!, may thoroughly furnish you unto all coed
works, is ia the historical character.
To man Of liberal education, the study of his
tory IS not only useful and important, but alto
ge,her indispensable, and with regard to abe bis
tory contained ia the Bible, the observation which
Cicero makes respecting that Of his own country is
mach more emphs,icay applicable, Co. that it is not
% much praise worthy to be acquainted with as 1t
- shameful u be ignorant oft" History, so far as
Il relates 10 the actions AID adventures OF men, may
h. divided in Eve different classes. First, the His
tory Of the world otherwise called Universal His
tory Second that of particular nations Third that
of particular institutions Fourth that oisngle fani'
lies. and Fifth that of individual meu. The last
two OF these classes are generally distinguished by
the name OF memoirs aud biography. All these
classes of history are TO be found in the Bible, and
It may be worth your while to discriminate them
one from another. The Universal History is short,
and all contained in the first eleven chapters OF
Gene.,, together with the first chapter Of the first
book of Chronicles, which is little more than
genealogical It's, Of but it is of grea, import
snce not only i, includes the history of the crea
ton Of the fall Of man. ofthe antediuvan world and
the food By which the whole human race, tex
ce2,ing Noah aud his family, were destroyed, bu'
sit givss very precise account OF the time from
the Creation until the Birth of Abraham. This is
the foundation % Ancient II history, aud 10 reading
profsne historians hereafter would advise you
always 70 reflect upon their narratives with refer
ence to il with spec, to the chronology. correct
: and
tory. ancient and MODERN that | may hereafter
write you something farther concerning 1t for the
present shall only recommend to your particular
attention the fifth aud eleventh chapters OF Genesis,
and request you 10 cast up and write me the amount
OF the age OF the world when Abraham was born.
The remainder of the book Of Genesis, beginnipg
q. the 10th chapter, is history of one individual
(AbrahsmD and his family during three generations
Of his descendants. after which the book of Exodus
commences with the history OF the same family,
multped into nation this national and family
history is continued through the hooks Of the Old
Testament until that of job. which is of peculiar
character differing in many particulars from every
other part Of the Scriptures. There is no other
history extaut which can give so interesting and
correct view of the rise aud progress OF human as.
defendants, through all the vicissitudes to which
individuals, families, and nations are liable. There
is no other history whers the origin OF whole
nation is traced up 20 single man. ana where
connected tain OF events ana regular series OF
persons from generation to generation is pre-
served. Asthc history OF family, II is intimately
connected with our religious principles and opin
ions for it is the family from which ia his human
charscterl Jesus Christ descC nded 1t begins by
relating the commands Of God to Abraham, to
abandon his country his kindred, and his fathers
house; and 70 20 to land which He woad show
him. This command was accompanied by two
promises; from which. aud from their fnlhlment
arose the differences which have just noticed be-
tween the history of the Jews and that OF every
other nation The fret of these promises was
THAT God would make Abraham great nation,
and ble.s him; A" the second, and ncomparably the
most important was that 10 hm al the families
Of the earth should be blessed This promise
WAS made about two thousand yesrs before 'he
birth Of Christ, and In HIM had its iulhment'
When Abraham in obedience to the command OF
God had gone into the land OF Canaan the Lord
.ppeared unto him aud made him third promise,
which was that he should give that land to ma
ton which should descend from him rs posses
H.,on this was fulfilled between five and SIX hun
drea ye,rs after ward. In reading all the historical
hook, Of both the Old and New Testaments' as
we'll a. the books Of the Prophets, you should al
WAYS bear in mind the reference which they have
to these three promises Of God to Abraham All
the history is no more than narrative OF the par
,iculsr manner, aud the detail OF events by when
,ko.a nrop,isas In filled.
In the account OF the Creation, and the al oil
Man have already renarked that the moral doc
trne ncucated by the Bible is that the great con
sumation OF all human virtue consists in obedience
10 the will OF God. When We come hereafter n
,pesk of the Bible in Its ethical character shall
sndssvor to show you the intrinsic excellence Of
hi. principle but ] shall now only remark how
strongly the principle itself is illustrated first in
the account OF the Fall and next by the history of
Abraham In the account of the Creation we are
informed that God. after having made the world,
GRATED the fret human pair, and gave them do
mioion over every living thing that moveth
mon the earth" He gave them also every herb
bearing seed and the fruit Of every tree for meat :
and ali this We are told God saw was very good