In our
journey through looking at our nations Christian heritage it’s amazing to recall
some of the things our forefathers and key political leaders said during the
formation of America. Check these out:
James Madison - Religion is the basis and Foundation of Government.
Benjamin Rush – Signer of Declaration of Independence
- Without religion there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no
liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican
governments", Benjamin Rush
John Hancock -1st
Signer of the Declaration of Independence - Resistance to tyranny becomes the
Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with
a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which
heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.
Benjamin Franklin - Signer
of the Declaration of Independence and Unites States Constitution -
Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator
of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be
worshipped.
John Quincy Adams - The
hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the
divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus
shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world
have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they
appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the
Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made 'bare His holy arm in
the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the
salvation of our God' (Isaiah 52:10).
William Penn - Men must be
governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.
James Monroe - When we view the blessings with which our country has been
favored, those which we now enjoy, and the means which we possess of handing
them down unimpaired to our latest posterity, our attention is irresistibly
drawn to the source from whence they flow. Let us then, unite in offering
our most grateful acknowledgments for these blessings to the Divine Author of All
Good.
Roger Sherman - Let us live no more to ourselves, but
to Him who loved us, and gave Himself to die for us.
George Washington - And now, Almighty Father, if it is Thy
holy will that we shall we shall obtain a place and name among the nations of
the Earth...grant that we may be enabled to show our gratitude for Thy goodness
by endeavors to fear and obey Thee.
Thomas Jefferson - God who gave us life gave us
liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have
removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that
these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated
but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that
God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Abraham
Lincoln - I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book
upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a
better man.
Patrick Henry - It cannot be emphasized too strongly
or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by
Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Oliver Wolcott – Signer of Declaration of
Independence - Thro Various Scenes of Life God has Sustained me. May he
ever be my unfailing Friend, May his Love cherish my Soul, May my Heart with
Gratitude Acknowledge his Goodness and may my Desires be to him and to the
Remembrance of his Name... May We then turn our Eyes to the bright Objects
above, and may God give us Strength to travel the upward Road. May the divine
Redeemer conduct us to that Seat of Bliss which he himself has prepared for his
Friends; at the Approach of which every Sor-row shall Vanish from the human
heart, and endless scenes of Glory Open upon the enraptured Eye.
College Presidents at the time:
Harvard President - After God had carried us safe to
New England, and we ... rear'd convenient places for God's worship ... dreading
to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches, when our present Ministers
shall lie in the Dust ... it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr.
Harvard, a godly gentleman and a lover of learning ... to give the one half of
his estate ... towards the erecting of a college and all his Library.
Reverend Jonathan Dickinson – 1st president of Princeton - Cursed
be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.
