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WOE UNTO AMERICA: NO LONGER A NATION OF GOD!
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26 March, 1999 A.D.
I. ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, IN "DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA," CIRCA 1835-1840:
In the United States the Sovereign Authority is Religious, ...there is no country in the world where the Christian Religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.The safeguard of Morality is Religion, and Morality is the best security of Law as well as the surrest pledge of Freedom.
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of Liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.
Christianity is the companion of Liberty in all its conflicts - the cradle of its infancy, and the Divine Source of its claims.
In the United States the influence of Religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people...
Christianity, therefore reigns without obstacle, by universal consent; the consequence is, as I have before observed, that every Principle of the Moral World is fixed and determinate...
I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the Churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with Righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. (3,8)
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ISAIAH 5:8-24:
WOE unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
In Mine ears said The LORD of Hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant...
WOE unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of The LORD, neither consider the operation of His hands.
Therefore My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and the multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
But The LORD of Hosts shall be exalted in judgement, and God that is Holy shall be sanctified in righteousness...
WOE unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
That say, Let Him make speed, and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the Counsel of The Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
WOE unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
WOE unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
WOE unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away The Law of The LORD of Hosts, and despised The Word of The Holy One of Israel. (1)
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II. PATRICK HENRY, ON THE SEPARATION OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA, CIRCA 1776:
...Whether this will prove a Blessing or a Curse will depend upon the use our people make of the Blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us.If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable.
Righteousness alone can exalt them as a Nation (Proverbs 14:34). Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice Virtue thyself, and encourage it in others. (2,3,40)
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PROVERBS 14:34:
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (1)
MATTHEW 23:13-36:
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
WOE unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by The Temple, it is nothing, but whosoever shall swear by the gold of The Temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or The Temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by The Altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or The Altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Whoso therefore shall swear by The Altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
And whoso shall swear by The Temple, sweareth by it, and by Him that dwelleth therein.
And he that shall swear by Heaven, sweareth by The Throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of The Law, judgement, mercy and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tombs of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous.
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the Prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you Prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between The Temple and The Altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (1)
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III. GEORGE WASHINGTON, FROM HIS PERSONAL PRAYER BOOK, ENTRY FOR A SUNDAY EVENING:
O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving Father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins...Let me live according to those Holy Rules which Thou hast this day prescribed in Thy Holy Word;Make me to know what is acceptable in Thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life; bless, O LORD, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom Thou hast appointed to rule us in Church & State.
Continue Thy goodness to me this night. These weak petitions, I humbly implore Thee to hear, accept and answer for the sake of Thy Dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. (3,5,61)
VI. GEORGE WASHINGTON, FROM HIS "FAREWELL SPEECH," 1796:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.
The mere Politician, equally with the Pious Man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity (happiness).
Let it simply be asked where is the security for prosperity, for reputation, for life, if the sense of Religious Obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in the Courts of Justice?
And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that Morality can be maintained without Religion.
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National Morality can prevail in exclusion of Religious Principle.
Tis substantially true, that Virtue or Morality is a necessary spring of popular government.
The Rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and Morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? ...Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity (happiness) of a Nation with its Virtue? (3,5,6)
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LUKE 6:20-31:
BLESSED be ye poor: for your's is the Kingdom of God.
BLESSED are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
BLESSED are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
BLESSED are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
REJOICE ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in Heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets.
WOE unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation.
WOE unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger.
WOE unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep.
WOE unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
BLESS them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you...
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (1)
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IV. RONALD REAGAN, FROM HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN 1984 & HIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROCLAMATION IN 1988:
Without God there is no Virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience...without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure...If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step - humble, heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the Love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance, and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and Holy hands on ourselves, our Nation, our friends in the defense of Freedom, and all mankind, now and always. (3)
May GOD ALMIGHTY, through THE HOLY SPIRIT, minister to you with these words is my humble Prayer, in The Name of JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, Amen!With All Due Respect,
Robert Baral
©Robert Baral 1997-2007 All Rights Reserved.
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REFERENCES
1. "The Holy Bible-Authorized King James Version-Scofield Study Bible." Oxford University Press, New York. 1945.
3. "America's God And Country Encyclopedia Of Quotations." William J. Federer. Fame Publishing, Inc. 820 South MacArthur Blvd., Coppell, Texas 75019-4214. 1994.
5. "George Washington The Christian." William J. Johnson. Christian Liberty Press. Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. 1992.
6. "Maxims Of Washington: With Washington's Farewell Address." John Frederick Schroeder, D.D. Sprinkle Publications. PO Box 1094, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801. 1995.
8. "The Myth Of Separation: What Is The Correct Relationship Between Church And State?" David Barton. Wall Builders. PO Box 397, Aledo, Texas 76008. www.wallbuilders.com
40. "America: God Shed His Grace On Thee." David Barton. Wallbuilders. PO Box 397, Aledo, Texas 76008. www.wallbuilders.com
61. "One Nation Under God - America's Christian Heritage." The Christian Defense Fund. 6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 320, Springfield, Virginia 22150. www.christiandefensefund.org/menus/contact.html
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