The section in the preamble of the Constitution that says, “To ourselves and our posterity” may seem self evident in meaning. But the Founders had a level of connection with their children that we need today. Here is a quote from John Adams when he was seeking admission for his son John Quincy Adams into Harvard after the younger John had been assigned to serve in Russia at age 14 as the Diplomatic Secretary to Francis Dana.
“…in Mathematicks I hope he will pass muster. in the Course of the last year, instead of playing Cards like the fashionable World I have Spent my Evenings with him. We went with some Accuracy through the Geometry in the Præceptor the Eight Books of Simpsons Euclid, in Latin and compared it Problem by Problem and Theorem by Theorem with Le Pere Dechalles in french, We went through plain Trigonometry and plain Sailing, Fennings Algebra, and the Decimal Fractions, arithmetical and Geometrical Proportions, and the Conic Sections in Wards Mathematicks. I then attempted a Sublime Flight and endeavoured to give him some Idea of the Differential Method of Calculation of the Marquis de L’Hospital, and the Method of Fluxions and infinite Series of Sir Isaac Newton. But alass it is thirty years Since I thought of Mathematicks, and I found I had lost the little I once knew, especially of these higher Branches of Geometry, So that he is as yet but a smatterer like his Father. however he has a foundation laid which will enable him with a years Attendance on the Mathematical Professor, to make the necessary Proficiency for a Degree…”
Father God Almighty, will You turn the hearts of us present day parents to our children and the hearts of our children to us, their parents? Teach us Your ways, O God, give us Revival with Reformation that we may train our little ones to love and glorify You once again. We thank you for Your patience and kindness with us in advance. In Jesus Mighty Wonderful Name, Amen.
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“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
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