In the Preface of Pennsylvania's 1862 Charter of Liberties which is the most direct precursor to the U.S. Senate in its institutional characteristics, we find the understanding that the source of all good government is ordained by God there quoting Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God: whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." Penn follows this in the Charter explaining, "So that government seems to me a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution and end." Our history as well as our documents lay the firm foundation that in the minds of our founders, the laws of government were to be derived from the principles found in the Holy Scriptures. It is from these principles and the fruit they bore throughout our history that produced the American culture and way of life we have enjoyed for so many years. However, this experiment of freedom we have known has not been a perfect experiment. Much freedom has been achieved, but the system itself though very solid has not been perfect; for though the precepts and principles were pure, they were implemented and watched over by sinful men. That is always the weakness in any society, it matters not how wise and pious the men are who rule, at their very best they are but men. The Charter would continue with this understanding: "Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them; and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But, if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn."
This grand system of government has become commonplace to us while our maintenance of it and understanding of its value is lacking. There is a delicate balance between personal freedom and obedience to government and law. Without diligence consideration concerning the men set in the authority of government and the consent of those to be governed, the system will break down and there will be varying levels of tyranny from the abuse of power or anarchy from a lawless people. The tools of this maintenance are only to be found in the Bible, it is there alone the true pillows of government can rest securely. This is demonstrated as the Charter continues: "But, next to the power of necessity, (which is a solicitor, that will take no denial) this induced me to a compliance, that we have (with reverence to God, and good conscience to men) to the best of our skill, contrived and composed the frame and laws of this government, to the great end of all government, viz: To support power in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power; that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable, for their just administration: for liberty, without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery. To carry this evenness is partly owing to the constitution, and partly to the magistracy: where either of these fails, the government will be subject to convulsions; but where both are wanting, it must be totally subverted; then where both meet, the government is like to endure."
Many among us today who oppose the idea of Christianity and or dissenters from religion, in general, go to great efforts to remove us from those religious principles that have held our society together for so many years. They author books and scholarly works to prove as effective as they can our system is not a religious or Christian system, but purely the work of men's minds and research. They deny a Biblical foundation for our laws and insist our constitutions of government are purely secular in their essence. They point to the documents themselves and their structure to demonstrate their secular nature and none religious form as if this in some fashion removes the religious base upon which they are set.
This they take notice of is the result of the nature of the document, our constitutions of government are indeed civil documents set in place to govern our secular lives. Webster's 1828 edition defines secular as SEC'ULAR, a. [L. secularis, from seculum, the world or an age.]
1. Pertaining to the present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to things not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly. The secular concerns of life respect making making provision for the support of life, the preservation of health, the temporal prosperity of men, of states, &c. Secular power is that which superintends and governs the temporal affairs of men, the civil or political power; and is contradistinguished from spiritual or ecclsiastical power.
That is indeed what they are, civil documents, it is not necessary to demonstrate chapter and verse for every constitution or civil law instituted in our society for that constitution to have a religious and Biblical base. In a Christian society, it is not even necessary to reference the name of God in a constitution of government for that constitution to have and rest upon a Christian foundation. Many do, but the absence of the reference does not negate the base upon which it rests. It would be the natural and logical assumption the document would reflect the mind, understanding, and views of those who formed it. It is the record of history concerning this aspect of our founding society, their worldview and general morality, and understanding of life and purpose were overwhelmingly Christian. Their understanding of government as demonstrated in this Charter of liberty of Pennsylvania as well as many others in the nation, along with their own personal testimony is that of a Biblical understanding of law and government.
Sadly, due to our lack of maintenance, there has been much success in distorting this understanding among our people. As this persuasion continues to find roots and growth among us, our system continues to break down and degrade.
"xxxv. That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceable and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in matters of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever." As one can see in section XXXV of the charter, they were very adamant about protecting their religious rights and ability to worship, yet they were just as adamant about the protection from coercion as well. They never intended their government to be the promoter of religion, simply a tool of protection. They understood if their government was successful in promoting and maintaining good and righteous laws, and the Church was faithful in the proclamation of the Gospel, society would prosper and be at peace while to Church grew.
"xxxvi. That, according to the good example of the primitive Christians, and the case of the creation, every first day of the week, called the Lord’s day, people shall abstain from their common daily labour, that they may better dispose themselves to worship God according to their understandings." In an environment such as this culture produced, laws that reflected respect for that religious worship could be enacted by legislation as well as desired and obeyed by the people freely. During the time our society experienced the so-called blue laws, laws restricting certain social activities on Sundays, they were not seen as oppressive or restrictive. It was the generally accepted view that it was simply the right thing to do. Even non-church goers respected it as a day set aside to honor God.
"xxxvii. That as a careless and corrupt administration of justice draws the wrath of God upon magistrates, so the wildness and looseness of the people provoke the indignation of God against a country: therefore, that all such offences against God, as swearing, cursing, lying, profane talking, drunkenness, drinking of healths, obscene words, incest, sodomy, rapes, whoredom, fornication, and other uncleanness (not to be repeated) all treasons, misprisions, murders, duels, felony, seditions, maims, forcible entries, and other violences, to the persons and estates of the inhabitants within this province; all prizes, stage-plays, cards, dice, May-games, gamesters, masques, revels, bull-baitings, cock-fightings, bear-baitings, and the like, which excite the people to rudeness, cruelty, looseness, and irreligion, shall be respectively discouraged, and severely punished, according to the appointment of the Governor and freemen in provincial Council and General Assembly; as also all proceedings contrary to these laws, that are not here made expressly penal." It has been said, "you can't legislate morality" but the laws do reflect the state of morality of a people in a free state. These laws were not a religious regime ruling as a religious tyrant over the people, they were a reflection of the morality of the people and their understanding and acceptance of right and just behavior in a society.
xix. That all marriages (not forbidden by the law of God, as to nearness of blood and affinity by marriage) shall be encouraged; but the parents, or guardians, shall be first consulted, and the marriage shall be published before it be solemnized; and it shall be solemnized by taking one another as husband and wife, before credible witnesses; and a certificate of the whole, under the hands of parties and witnesses, shall be brought to the proper register of that county, and shall be registered in his office. Section XIX in the charter sets the premise for the institution of any law enacted. In it we find the principles that was laid upon any legislation, (that it not be forbidden by the law of God). That was the litmus test that was always applied, though it was not always implied. Though the name of God may not have been mentioned in the legislation or constitution of government, its essence always fell under that perimeter. It is strange for us today to imagine such a society where the minds of a people were so permeated with the knowledge of God. The cultural influence and society, in general, brought to bear such a mind of morality and piety even upon non-churchgoers. It was the way the then social populous simply choose to be governed.
These things are not so today, the general population would cast off such restraints and reject such a religious influence intruding into their lives. This America in the early years is not something that can be duplicated by governmental form. It is something that must arise in the heart of a people in such a way it is unifying and binding upon society. It is not the government that produced it, the society itself that developed out of this Christian faith produced and maintained the government. Without the support of the Christian faith, the government and the system must of necessity be altered to some other form of government or fail to function properly in securing its freedoms. The value of the Christian faith in the American system of government simply cannot be overestimated.
May the grace of God be upon each of you,
David
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