Education is useless without the Bible." The man who said that carried one of the most famous names in America. People don't know much about him these days, but any time they want to look up the meaning of a word, they are likely to turn to a dictionary that echoes his fame on its cover.
Noah Webster was born in Connecticut in 1758. Americans would soon be battling the British for independence. Webster became a staunch patriot. Not only did he join a regiment during the revolutionary war, but after independence, he wrote extensively, calling for a national constitution and urging its adoption once the committee in Philadelphia had drafted it. It is impossible to say how many people Webster swayed.
Truth to tell, it is hard to find an area of society to which Noah Webster did not contribute something. He trained as a lawyer, served as a school teacher, edited newspapers and magazines, studied epidemics, amassed statistics, kept records on the climate, assisted in founding Amherst College, prepared an American version of the Bible, produced teaching materials used by millions of Americans, agitated for copyright laws and compiled the first American language dictionary. (G. & C. Merriam Co. bought the rights to the dictionary in 1843, which is why many dictionaries have Merriam-Webster in their name.)
Webster was a strong supporter of George Washington. In fact, he was such a strong supporter of the first president, that he established the first daily newspaper in New York City so that he could defend his hero. The American Minerva was first published on this day, December 9, 1793.
Webster was one of the first to make the daily newspaper a political force in America.
His views on the importance of Christianity can be seen from this quote "The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government."
His views on the importance of Christianity can be seen from this quote "The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government."
Webster was converted in the Second Great Awakening. His need of Christ having come strong upon him, he was unable to study. "I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or mistaken and was led by a spontaneous impulse to repentance, prayer and entire submission of myself to my maker and redeemer." This was followed by a sense of peace.
Have we forgot who God is in reference to who we are? I am finding it is refreshing to me to begin to realize I don’t have to nor should I try to talk or persuade someone into being a Christian. O, we may talk a few into our circle, but I am finding that the power comes when a soul is confronted by the Savior himself.
I am not relieving us of our responsibility to share our faith, just in search of the most effective way to bring salvation to those with whom we come in contact. Webster was a convert of the Second Great Awakening, this was a period of time in which men and women had touched the face of God with their prays and God was answering with the force of His Spirit upon the hearts of men.
A Nation was being convicted, not by our talking, but by the Holy Spirit of God moving upon them in response to a remnant that had found it’s way to the face of God.
I am convinced when we once again become determined to find our way to that place, God will again answer with the Power of his Spirit. Because of this strong need for their Savior, men will close their books and begin to yield to influence of the move of God. It will not be resisted nor mistaken, but by spontaneous impulse they will be lead to repentance, prayer and entire submission of their selves to their redeemer! The Peace of God will have found it way to their hearts and America will again be revived.
Is this our time? Do we have the desire and the courage to seek out this place? It is not a journey that can be made without effort or expense. We just have to make up our minds if we want to go!
May God bless each of you,
David
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