1.Re-read this paragraph from the speech. (18) It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. (19) The prayers of both could not be answered. (20) That of neither has been answered fully. (21) The Almighty has His own purposes. (22) "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." (23) If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? (24) Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. (25) Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

The speaker uses the quotation in sentence 22 ("Woe unto the world...the offense cometh...") to

suggest that the country is being punished for allowing slavery
contrast the values of the troops for the North and the South
imply that the North has a responsibility to destroy the South
establish the idea that slavery is a necessary woe in the country's history

2.
Re-read this paragraph from the speech.

(10) One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. (11) These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. (12) All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. (13) To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war; while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. (14) Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. (15) Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. (16) Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. (17) Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other.

The primary function of sentence 17 ("Both read the same Bible...") is to

contrast the religious beliefs that guide the North and the South to war
decry the role that religion had in perpetuating the institution of slavery
emphasize the religious beliefs that both the North and the South have in common
illuminate the role of religion in inspiring the reason and justification for war

3.
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

refute the rumors circulating about the nature or causes of the war
acknowledge the reason for the brevity and content of the rest of his speech
establish the foundational thesis for the speaker's forthcoming argument
establish the speaker's confidence for the future of a unified country