On the morning of the battle of Bunker Hill, Elbridge Gerry earnestly requested Warren not to expose himself. Warren would reply: "I am aware of the danger, but I should die with shame if I were to remain at home in safety while my friends and fellow citizens are shedding their blood and hazarding their lives in the cause." Gerry answered with: "Your ardent temper will carry you forward into the midst of peril, and you will probably fall." to which Warren returned: "I know that I may fall, but where is the man who does not think it glorious and beautiful to die for his country?"
Those are noble and courageous responses, it is the voice of those who love their country and their freedom. This nation has been richly blessed with patriots who have been willing to give their all for the experience of freedom that has found root in this land. Joseph Warren rightly should be honored for his service and sacrifice to this nation, and greatly appreciated for his oratory skills that helped fan the fire of Liberty. In doing so it should be remembered there are still Joseph Warrens among us, and for that, we should continue to remain thankful. What perhaps has changed, however, is the definition and understanding of the freedom these men grasp for. In other words, the purpose of and reason for freedom. I am not sure we understand today why these men sought freedom and saw it as a right to be possessed by all.
May this Almighty Being graciously preside in all councils. May he direct us to such measures as He Himself will approve and be pleased to bless. May we ever be a people favored of God. May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, a name and a praise in the whole earth until the last shock of time shall bury the empires of the world in one common undistinguished ruin." - Joseph Warren, Boston, March 5, 1772.
It is generally taught today concerning the faith of our founders that they were diest and seeking to establish a secular state free from the influence of religion. We can be certain judging from his words he was no deist. His reference to "the same Almighty Being who protected your venerable and pious forefathers," identifies him as a Christian, and being laid to rest at St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church in 1825 suggests Methodist faith.
As the British breached the walls of the redoubt during their final assault on June 17, 1775, he fought with the cover force until the last bullet to buy time for the retreating militia.
Later, forensic analysis of his remains revealed that he was killed by a musket ball that was shot from the front and went through his skull, causing instant death. He was likely killed by a British officer, possibly Lieutenant Lord Rawdon, or an officer's servant, who recognized him, and his body was disfigured with bayonets before being dumped into a shallow ditch.
Two days later, British Lieutenant James Drew again dug up his body to commit every act of violence imaginable, including, spitting on his face, jumping on his stomach, and cutting off his head. On March 21, 1776, after the British left Boston, Paul Revere helped Joseph's brothers identify his body on the battlefield after recognizing the silver bridgework he did to fasten a false tooth in Warren's mouth.
Warren was not so naive as to think this an impossibility, yet even expected as much to be awaiting him. From his statement "I am aware of the danger, but I should die with shame if I were to remain at home in safety while my friends and fellow citizens are shedding their blood and hazarding their lives in the cause." coupled with his statement "May this Almighty Being graciously preside in all councils. May he direct us to such measures as He Himself will approve and be pleased to bless." we can identify his understanding of the doctrine of Providence. It is the same understanding we find a hundred years later residing in the famous Southern General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.
This was the same faith Warren possessed. It was prominent in the faith of the founders of this nation and carried the nation for over two centuries. It is articulated in all the great protestant confessions of faith. One of which would be the 1689 London Baptist.
Chapter 5. Of Divine Providence
1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, 1 from the greatest even to the least. 2 by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy. 3
1. Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6
2. Matthew 10:29-31
3. Ephesians 1:11
2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; 4 so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without His providence; 5 yet by the same providence He ordered them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 6
4. Acts 2:23
5. Proverbs 16:33
6. Genesis 8:22
3. God, in his ordinary providence makes use of means, 7 yet is free to work without, 8 above, 9 and against them 10 at His pleasure.
7. Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10-11
8. Hosea 1:7
9. Romans 4:19-21
1Daniel 3:27
4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; 11 and that not by a bare permission, which also He most wisely and powerfully binds, and otherwise orders and governs, 12 in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends; 13 yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin. 14
Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1
2 Kings 19:28; Psalms 76:10
Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6-7, 12
Psalms 1:21; 1 John 2:16
5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does often times leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. 15 So that whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good. 16
2 Chronicles 32:25-26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Romans 8:28
6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin does blind and harden; 17 from them He not only withholds His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; 18 but sometimes also withdraws the gifts which they had, 19 and exposes them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; 20 and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, 21 whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God uses for the softening of others. 22
Romans 1:24-26, 28, 11:7-8
Deuteronomy 29:4
Matthew 13:12
Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12-13
Psalms 81:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9-10; 1 Peter 2:7-8
7. As the providence of God does in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it takes care of His church, and disposes of all things to the good thereof.
1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8-9; Isaiah 43:3-5
