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names of country and of fellow-countrymen, of 
friends, of kindred, and of home. 
But the first created beings, by whom were they 
instructed ? By the only possible Instructor, the sole, 
preexisting Ordainer of their existence. 
What says the most ancient of traditions ? what 
the most ancient of records ? 
The Lord God put the man into the garden of 
Eden, and commanded the man: Of the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat. 
What followed, we all know too well: an irresistible 
veto was opposed to further knowledge. 
A book perhaps as old as that of Genesis, perhaps 
by the same inspired penman, is throughout a solemn 
admonition to all human beings to abstain from 
questioning the wisdom and goodness of the Omni- 
potent in the permission of what we call evil. 
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth 
not account of any of his ordinances. Job xxxiii. 13. 
He chasteneth man with pain upon his bed. 
ver. 19. 
He looketh upon men; and if any say, I have 
sinned, he will deliver his soul from the pit, and 
his life shall see the light. ver. 28. 
Who can read the sublime thirty-eighth and 
thirty-ninth chapters of Job, and not feel disposed 
to repeat in humility with him, Behold, I am vile ; 
what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand 
upon my mouth. Job xl. 4. 
Who is he that obscureth counsel without know- 
