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The Weight of Testimony
Is it not that, in the chain of events/ the
birthday ofthe nation is indissolubly linked with
the birthday ofthe Saviour?.... Is it not that the
Declaration ofIndependence first organized the
social compact on the foundation of the
Redeemer's mission? That it laid the cornerstone
ofhuman government upon the first precepts of
·
Christianity and gave to the world the first
irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the
prophecies announced directly from Heaven at
the birth of the Saviour and predicted by the
greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years
before.
-- John Quincy Adams, 1837
The Bible came with them. And it is not to
be
doubte~
that the free and universal reading
of the Bible/ in that age/ men were much
indebted for right views ofcivil liberty. The Bible
is a book offaith/ and a book ofdoctrine/ and a
book of morals/ and a book of religion/ of
especial revelation from
Go~·
but it is also a book
which
.
teaches man his equality with his
fellowman.
-- Daniel Webster, 1843
,
Go~
in His providence/ has given us a Book
of His revealed will to be with us at the
commencement ofour career in this life and at
its termination/ and to accompany us during all
chances and changes of this trying and fitful
progress/ to control the passions/ to enlighten
the judgment, to guide the conscience/ to teach
us what we ought to do here/ and what we shall
be hereafter.
-- Lewis Cass, former
Secretary of State, 1846
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