"The whole of the sixteenth century was a period of active preparation for future times, and all that is great in modern science may be said to have received its foundation in the agitations that grew out of that period of the world. It forms one of the grandest and richest eras in human history. Whilst it was an age replete with the most splendid triumphs in science and literature, it was pre-eminent, also, for its elaboration and vindication of the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty."- Benjamin F. Morris 1864
The American experience did not happen overnight, nor was it the product of a few radicals that incited a revolution and won. I would argue the seeds were being sown in the minds of men long before the time Mr. Morris refers to above. But it is certainly true of that century. From its very foundation the root from which all achievements pertaining to man's freedom and advancement in humanity sprout, is an understanding of the nature of God and the nature of man. Understanding God's divine nature and the demands of his law as compared to man's nature and his inability to keep them. It brought fourth government and true freedom to levels beyond man's capacity in and of himself.
"It was in these schools of fiery trial that the founders of the American republic were educated and prepared for their grand Christian mission, and in which their faith and characters became strong and earnest with Christian truth. They were trained in stormy times, in order to prepare them to elaborate and establish the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty and of just systems of civil government."- Benjamin F. Morris 1864
The character of the influential men at the beginning of the American experiment were formed and groomed by the seeds of the Protestant Reformation. The great Puritans' minds before them were weighing upon them, their view of the scriptures were the basis of their worldview and the formation of their thought and grandeur ideas.
"Brewster, Winthrop, Roger Williams, Penn, George Calvert, Oglethorpe, Otis, Adams, Jefferson, and Washington, with their illustrious co-laborers, could trace their true political parentage to Pym, Hampden, Wickliffe, Milton, and Cromwell, and to the ages in which they vindicated the principles of liberty, and sealed, many of them, their faith by martyrdom."- Benjamin F. Morris 1864
These ideas were expensive, many times the cost was the spilling of blood. Blood sacrificed for lofty ideas worthy of such.
"The founders of the Christian republic of North America adopted the symbol of civil and religious liberty as the great idea and end of all their civil institutions. They had the most glorious conceptions of the genius of the Christian religion, not only as a system of spiritual doctrines but as designed and adapted to create and carry on the best and freest forms of civil government. They held to the faith that civil government was an ordination of God and that its administration ought to harmonize with the law and will of God as revealed in the Bible. This great object was kept before the minds of the founders and fathers of the republic, and their beau-idéal of civil government was that which was found in the Christian religion. As the fruits of this symbol, or leading idea and purpose, contrast the Christian republic of North America with the fruits of ancient and modern nations." - Benjamin F. Morris 1864
It is difficult for the modern American mind to understand such reasoning much less embrace it, the foundation that produced it no longer abides. We are left looking at the surface unable to see the foundation that lies beneath, forgotten in history. Somewhere along the way it was laid aside, now lost, we may not be able to recover it. We are still the benefactor of this grand experiment, many residual blessings abide with us daily, however, its maintenance alludes us, therefore, as it deteriorates, more and more human freedom is lost. Except the Lord is merciful and grants a falling nation repentance, all will be lost. Many nations have risen without a concept of Christianity and reached greats heights of human achievement. However, only upon the principles found in the American experience drawn from depts of the Christian faith do we find human freedom at its highest achievement.
May the grace of God be with each of you,
David
