NOTES.

NOTE A.-LECTURE 1. p. 26.

The Journal of Congress shows how carefully the founders of our Republic cherished a deep sense of their dependance on God, and how highly they valued the Scriptures and the ordinances of Christianity as essential to the Iwelfare of the nation.

During the Revolution there was a painful scarcity of Bibles throughout the country. Few, if any, were imported, and booksellers had not the capital and other means for publishing an American edition. The subject was brought before Congress, and was referred to a Committee, who gave it their careful attention. On the 11th of September, 1777, they reported to the House:

"That they have conferred fully with the printers, &c. in this city, and are of opinion, that the proper types for printing the Bible are not to be had in this country, and that the paper cannot be procured, but with such difficulties, and subject to such casualties, as render any dependence on it altogether improper; that to import types for the purpose of setting up an entire edition of the Bible, and to strike off 30,000 copies, with paper, binding, &c. will cost £10,272 10s., which must be advanced by Congress, to be reimbursed by the sale of the books; that, in the opinion of the Committee, considerable difficulties will attend the procuring the types and paper; that afterwards the risk of importing them will considerably enhance the cost, and that the calculations are subject to such uncertainty in the present state of affairs, that Congress cannot much rely on them; that the use of the Bible is so universal, and its importance so great, that your Committee

refer the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, the Committee recommend that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different States of the Union."

"Whereupon," adds the Journal," it was moved, That the Committee of Commerce be directed to import 20,000 copies of the Bible; and it was resolved in the affirmative."

We may better understand the "great importance" which Congress attached to the Bible, if we recollect that when they passed this resolution appropriating funds for the proposed importation, they were greatly pressed by the want of money in the Treasury for the support of their troops then in the field.

This Christian spirit is also very clearly exhibited in the frequency with which Congress appointed days of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and also seasonable days of thanksgiving during the whole period of the Revolutionary struggle. The language used in their various proclamations shows that they were not ashamed or afraid to speak plainly on the great truths of Christianity. When it was perceived in the early part of the year 1776, that war was inevitable, they issued the following recommendation:

"In times of impending calamity and distress, when the liberties of America are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy Colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publicly to acknowledge the over-ruling providence of God; to confess and deplore our offences against him, and to supplicate his interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue and posterity.

"The Congress, therefore, considering the warlike preparations of the British Ministry to subvert our invaluable rights and pri

of the

vileges, and to reduce us by fire and sword, by the savages wilderness and our own domestics, to the most abject and ignominious bondage; desirous, at the same time, to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God's superintending providence, and of their duty duly to rely in all their lawful enterprises on his aid and direction, do earnestly recommend that Friday, the 17th day of May next, be observed by the said Colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease His righteous displeasure, and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness, humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies, and by inclining their hearts to justice and benevolence, prevent the further effusion of kindred blood. But if, continuing deaf to the voice of reason and humanity, and inflexibly bent on desolation and war, they constrain us to repel their hostile invasion by open resistance, that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the Continental Army, by sea and by land, with victory and success; earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulers and representatives of the people in their several assemblies and conventions; to preserve and strengthen their union, to give wisdom and stability to their councils, and direct them to the most efficacious measures for establishing the rights of America on the most honorable and permanent basis; that He would be graciously pleased to bless all his people in these Colonies with health and plenty, and grant that a spirit of incorruptible patriotism, and of pure, undefiled religion may universally prevail, and this Continent be speedily restored to the blessings of peace and liberty, and enabled to transmit them inviolate to the latest posterity. And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations to assemble for public worship, and abstain from servile labor on the said day."

We have not space to quote all the proclamations which were issued during the war, appointing days either of humiliation or thanksgiving. But we will make room for the two following; the first of which was adopted in October,

1779, after several instances of success had attended the American army, and is as follows:

"Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the Throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which His goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this Western World; for his protection to them and to their posterity amidst difficulties and dangers; for raising us, their children, from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the earth, and for arming the hands of just and mighty princes in our deliverance; and especially for that He hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to order the revolving seasons that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the husbandman and spreading plenty through the land; that He hath prospered our arms and those of our ally; been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory, and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that He hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that He hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that He hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who fought the enemy on the face of the deep; and, above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the Gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore,

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for His mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of His favor and protection to these United States; to beseech Him that He would be graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness and success; that He would go forth with our hosts and crown our armies with victory; that He would grant to his church the plentiful effusion of divine grace, and pour out his Holy Spirit on all ministers of the Gospel; that He would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that He would smile upon the labors of His people, and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance, that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that He

would take under His holy protection our illustrious ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him signally great as the father of his people and the protector of the rights of mankind; that He would be graciously pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to contending nations; that he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon our sins, and receive us into His favor, and finally, that he would establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoy. ment of peace, liberty and safety."

When intelligence was received that the British Army had capitulated at Yorktown, it was immediately

"Resolved, that Congress will at 2 o'clock this day go in procession to the Dutch Lutheran Church, and .return thanks to Almighty God for crowning the allied arms of the United States and France with success, by the surrender of the whole British Army under the command of the Earl Cornwallis."

The same devout spirit had been manifested in the army itself. The day after the surrender, General Washington issued an order which closes in the following words :

“Divine service shall be performed to-morrow in the different brigades and divisions. The Commander-in-Chief recommends that all the troops that are not upon duty, do assist at it with a serious deportment, and that sensibility of heart which the recollection of the surprising and particular interposition of Providence in our favor claims."

The auspicious event was commended as a subject of thankfulness to the whole nation in the following proclamation:

"Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of Mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty, against the long continued efforts of a powerful nation, it is the auty of all ranks to observe and thankfully to acknowledge the interposition of his providence in their behalf. Through the whole of the contest, from its first