This is a famous quote you may have heard:

Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity and universal philanthropy, and, in subordination to these great principles, the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of self-government, without which they never can act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system and the art of self-government. ~ Samuel Adams, Boston, October 4, 1790, Christian History, Vol. i, p. xiv 

Notice the date of 1790. This is after the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention. So they are realizing after these miracles of incredible accomplishments of divine wisdom in public policy setting, that this is not enough.

Samuel Adams had asked his second cousin, John Adams, earlier in this letter:

You ask what the World is about to become? and, Is the Millenium commencing? I have not studied the Prophesies, and cannot even conjecture. The Golden Age so finely pictured by Poets, I believe has never yet existed; but in their own imaginations. In the earliest periods, when for the honor of human nature, one should have thought, that man had not learnt to be cruel; what Scenes of horror have been exhibited in families of some of the best instructors in Piety, and morals! Even the heart of our first father was grievously wounded at the sight of the murder of one of his Sons, perpetrated by the hand of the other.— Has Mankind since seen the happy Age? No, my friend. The same Tragedy’s have been acted in the Theatre of the World; the same Arts of tormenting have been studied, and practiced to this day; and true religion, and reason united have never succeeded to establish the permanent foundations of political freedom, and happiness in the most enlightened Countries on the Earth.— After a compliment to Boston Town meetings, and our Harvard College as having “set the universe in Motion”; you tell me Every Thing will be pulled down; I think with you, “so much seems certain,” but what say you, will be built up?

So the first quote above had been the conclusion that Sam had drawn. To build up he says we must reach the Fathers, specifically “by impressing the minds of men…” 

It reminds me of Ephesians 6:4:

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” KJV

It amazes me how different this verse is in the different versions. https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Ephesians%206%3A4 I am not much of a King James kid, but I love the words “nurture” and “admonition”.

The 1828 definitions are:

NUR’TURE, noun That which promotes growth; education; instruction.

ADMONI’TION, noun Gentle reproof; counseling against a fault; instruction in duties; caution; direction.

Biblically then, mothers who understand that this is the most important call for their husbands will respond as helpmates “to instruct their little boys and girls… in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system and the art of self-government”

When you look up “government” in most dictionaries today that term “Self-government” is not even there. But in the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary, it is literally in the etymology and in the first, most important definition:

GOV’ERNMENT, noun Direction; regulation. These precepts will serve for the government of our conduct.

1. Control; restraint. Men are apt to neglect the government of their temper and passions.

The second definition in the 1828 says:

2. The exercise of authority; direction and restraint exercised over the actions of men in communities, societies or states; the administration of public affairs, according to established constitution, laws and usages, or by arbitrary edicts.

Do we, as Americans understand the difference between governing “according to established constitution… or by arbitrary edicts.”  The difference is night and day and literally determines whether we live in Liberty or Tyranny.

I love the third definition:

3. The exercise of authority by a parent or householder. Children are often ruined by a neglect of government in parents.

“Let family government be like that of our heavenly Father, mild, gentle and affectionate.”  ~ Kollock.

Who teaches parents that they have a critical role to play in establishing Liberty in their nation just by governing their own little family faithfully?  As Christians, we have the mandate to “… act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system and the art of self-government.”

How refreshing to hear someone refer to Christian principles as “exalted” because they are. They do require virtue, as they have to be chosen voluntarily and are so far superior to the world’s system.

What is this “Christian system”? Jesus explained it so well in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” The root meaning of mammon is “avarice” which means greed, envy, covetous… Just the opposite of Virtue! We must choose to be envious or virtuous. We cannot be both.

So the call comes to us to “renovate the age, by … educating … little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity and universal philanthropy, and, in subordination to these great principles, the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of self-government, without which they never can act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system and the art of self-government.” 

So help us, Almighty God! In Jesus’ Name! Amen.

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A1 S9 C8 No Nobility nor Emoluments

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.  ~A1 S9 C8

Edmund Randolph said “The last restriction restrains any person in office from accepting of any present or emolument, title, or office, from any Foreign prince or state… It was thought, proper, in order to exclude corruption and foreign influence, to prohibit anyone in office from receiving or holding any emoluments from foreign states.”(1)

Of taking a bribe, Exodus 23:8 warns, “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.”

2 Chronicles 19:7 says,  “Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

Reverend Isaac Backus clarified in the Constitutional debates, “Another great advantage, sir, in the Constitution before us, is, its excluding all titles of nobility, or hereditary succession of power, which hath been a main engine of tyranny in foreign countries. But the American revolution was built upon the principal that all men are born with an equal right to liberty and property, and that officers have no right to any power but what is fairly given them by the consent of the people. And in the Constitution now proposed to us, a power is reserved to the people constitutionally to reduce every officer again to a private station; and what a guard is this against their invasion of others’ rights, or abusing of their power! Such a door is now opened for the establishment of righteous government, and for securing equal liberty, as never was before opened to any people upon earth.”(2)

Father, grant us repentance for abdicating our responsibilities to steward our liberty faithfully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

1. Elliot, 3:465
2. Elliot, 2:150-51

Listen every Saturday to WCNO at 8:30 am EST at 89.9 FM.

I have learned many of these quotes from The Making of America by Cleon Skousen.    You may purchase it here.

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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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