139 / 304
The Weight of Testimony
A patriot without religion, in my estimation,
is as great a paradox as an honest man without
the fear ofGod. Is it possible that he whom no
moral obligations bind, can have any real Good
Will towards Men? Can he be a patriot who, by
an ·openly vicious conduct, is undermining the
vety bonds ofSociety?... The Scriptures tell us
righteousness exalteth a nation.
.
-- Abigail Adams, 1777
Providence has given to our people the
choice of their rulers, and it is the duf:YI as well
as the privilege andinterest, ofa Christian nation
to select andprefer Christians for their rulers.
-- Chief Justice of
New York, John May, 1777
Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer
that Thou wilt keep the UnitedStates in Thy Holy
protection, and wilt most graciously be pleased
to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and
to demean
ourselve~
with that charity, humility,
and pacific temper of mind which were the
characteristics of the Divine Author of our
blessed religion, and without a humble imitation
of whose example in these things we can never
hope to be a happy nation.
.
. ·
-- General George Washington, 1783
To the distinguished character ofa Patriot,
it should be our highest gloty to add the more
distinguished character ofa Christian.
-- General George Washington in
his general order calling for
services every Sunday
It was for the love ofthe truths ofthis great
Book that our fathers abandoned their native
121