But should we then cease to speak about Abraham? I certainly think not. But if I were to speak about him I would first of all describe the terrors of his trial. To that end leech-like I would suck all the suffering and distress out of the anguish of a father, in order to be able to describe what Abraham suffered whilst yet preserving his faith. I would remind the hearer that the journey lasted three days and a goodly part of the fourth--in fact, these three and a half days ought to become infinitely longer than the few thousand years which separate me from Abraham. I would remind him, as I think right, that every person is still permitted to turn about-before trying his strength on this formidable task; in fact, that he may return every instant in repentance. Provided this is done, I fear for nothing. Nor do I fear to awaken great desire among people to attempt to emulate Abraham. But to get out a cheap edition of Abraham and yet forbid every one to do as he did, that I call ridiculous.[18] [Footnote 1: Freely after Genesis 22.] [Footnote 2: Genesis 20, 11 f.] [Footnote 3: Genesis 22, 1.] [Footnote 4: Luke 23, 30.] [Footnote 5: Genesis 22, 3.] [Footnote 6: Genesis 22, 9.] [Footnote 7: _Cf._ Thessalonians 3, 10.] [Footnote 8: In _Aladdin_, Oehlenschläger's famous dramatic poem, Aladdin, "the cheerful son of nature," is contrasted with Noureddin, representing the gloom of doubt and night.] [Footnote 9: Matthew 5, 45.] [Footnote 10: _Cf._ not the legend but Plato's _Symposion._] [Footnote 11: Matthew 3, 9.] [Footnote 12: Isaiah 26, 18.] [Footnote 13: Themistocles, that is; see Plutarch, Lives.] [Footnote 14: Matthew 19, 16f.] [Footnote 15: Your cause, too, is at stake.] [Footnote 16: By his own impulse and on his own responsibility.] [Footnote 17: _Cf._ I Cor. 10, 12.] [Footnote 18: The above, with the omissions indicated, constitutes about one-third of "Fear and Trembling."] PREPARATION FOR A CHRISTIAN LIFE I[1] "COME HITHER UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST." (MATTHEW 11, 28.) THE INVITATION "Come hither!"--It is not at all strange if he who is in danger and needs help--speedy, immediate help, perhaps--it is not strange if he cries out: "come hither"! Nor it is strange that a quack cries his wares: "come hither, I cure all maladies"; alas, for in the case of the quack it is only too true that it is the physician who has need of the sick. "Come hither all ye who at extortionate prices can pay for the cure--or at any rate for the medicine; here is physic for everybody--who can pay; come hither!"