Founders on God Of the 55 Constitutional delegates there were 28 Episcopalians, 8 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Lutherans, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 1 unknown and 3 Deists 34% of quotations in Framers’ writings came from the Bible John Adams Thoughts on Government — 1776 Category: God It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship. ________________________________________ Benjamin Franklin Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention — 1787 Category: God And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in Vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that, without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel ________________________________________ Alexander Hamilton Category: God To grant that there is a supreme intelligence who rules the world and has established laws to regulate the actions of his creatures; and still to assert that man, in a state of nature, may be considered as perfectly free from all restraints of law and government, appears to a common understanding altogether irreconcilable. Good and wise men, in all ages, have embraced a very dissimilar theory. They have supposed that the deity, from the relations we stand in to himself and to each other, has constituted an eternal and immutable law, which is indispensably obligatory upon all mankind, prior to any human institution whatever. This is what is called the law of nature....Upon this law depend the natural rights of mankind. ________________________________________ Thomas Jefferson Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18 — 1781 Category: God 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 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 for ever. Thomas Jefferson Rights of British America — 1774 Category: Rights The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them. ________________________________________ James Madison letter to Frederick Beasley — 1825 Category: God The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it. ________________________________________ James Madison A Memorial and Remonstrance — 1785 Category: God It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only, as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. ________________________________________ George Washington circular letter of farewell to the Army — 1783 Category: God I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation. ________________________________________ George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation — 1789 Category: God It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors. ________________________________________ George Washington letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport — 1790 Category: God May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy. ________________________________________ James Wilson Chisholm v. Georgia — 1793 Category: God A State, I cheerfully admit, is the noblest work of Man: But Man, himself, free and honest, is, I speak as to this world, the noblest work of God.... _____________________________________
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 02:17:20 +0000
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