

The Weight of Testimony
shores for the wilderness. Animated by its lofty
principles, they toiled andsuffered till the desert
blossomed as the rose.
The same truths
sustained them in their resolutions to become a
free nation. .. ; Ifthere were in that book nothing
but its great precept, 'All things whatsoever you
would that men should do unto you, do ye even
so to them, 'and ifthatprecept were obeyed, our
government might extend over the whole
Continent.
--
Zachary Taylor, 1784
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
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1787
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
withoutHis notice, is it probable that an empire
can rise without His aid?
-- Benjamin Franklin
He who shall introduce into public affairs the
principles ofprimitive Christianity will change the
face of the world.
-- Benjamin Franklin, U.S.
Ambassador to France
For my own part, I sincerely esteem it as a
system which without the finger of God, never
could have been suggested and agreed upon by
such a diversity ofinterests.
-- Alexander Hamilton, 1787
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to
acknowledge the providence ofAlmighty God, to
122
' ·