Re-read the first paragraph of the speech. (1) At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. (2) Then, a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. (3) Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. (4) The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. (5) With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

The purpose of this first paragraph is to (3 points)

A) refute the rumors circulating about the nature or causes of the war

B) acknowledge the reason for the brevity and content of the rest of his speech

C) establish the foundational thesis for the speaker's forthcoming argument

D)establish the speaker's confidence for the future of a unified country

11-32. the main character in the parable, the forgiving father, whose character remains constant throughout the story, is a picture of god. in telling the story, jesus identifies himself with god in his loving attitude to the lost. the younger son symbolizes the lost (the tax collectors and sinners of that day, luke 15: 1), and the elder brother represents the self-righteous (the pharisees and teachers of the law of that day, luke 15: 2). the major theme of this parable seems not to be so much the conversion of the sinner, as in the previous two parables of luke 15, but rather the restoration of a believer into fellowship with the father. in the first two parables, the owner went out to look for what was lost (luke 15: 1-10), whereas in this story the father waits and watches eagerly for his son's return. we see a progression through the three parables from the relationship of one in a hundred (luke 15: 1-7), to one in ten (luke 15: 8-10), to one in one (luke 15: 11-32), demonstrating god’s love for each individual and his personal attentiveness towards all humanity. we see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the prodigal son to repentance (romans 2: 4).