America’s Christian Heritage

Some selected quotes from early American leaders showing the Christian character of our leaders and that we were a Christian nation

Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Greenhoow in 1814: “There never was a more pure and sublime system of morality delivered to men than is to be found in the four Evangelists.”

Historians say Jefferson was a Deist.  A Deist believes God created the world but then backed off and has no influence in any future events.  A careful reading of Jefferson’s writings reveal he was not a Deist. Jefferson to David Barrow, 1815: “We are not in a world ungoverned by the laws and the power of a Superior Agent.  Our efforts are in His hand, and directed by it, and He will give them their effort in His own time.” Also, from President Jefferson’s Second Inaugural Address in 1805: “We need the favor of that Being...who led our forefathers...that He will so enlighten the minds of your servants, guide their councils, and prosper their measures....”

From President John Adams’ Dairy on February 22, 1756 (he was Vice President under President Washington from 1789-1797 and President from 1797-1801):

“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law-book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited!  Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance and frugality and industry; to justice and kindness and charity towards his fellow men.  And to piety, love and reverence towards Almighty God.  In this Commonwealth no man would impair his health by gluttony, drunkenness or lust; no man would sacrifice his most precious time to cards or any other trifling and mean amusement; no man would steal or lie, or in any way defraud his neighbor, but would live in peace and good will with all men; no man would blaspheme his maker or profane his worship; but a rational and manly, a sincere and unaffected piety and devotion would reign in all hearts.  What a utopia, what a paradise would this region be!”

(I agree with President Adams and call for all laws to be based on the Holy Bible).

President John Adams’ letter to Benjamin Rush, August 28, 1811: “I agree with you in sentiment that religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all governments and in all the combinations of human society.”

John Adams, Dairy, July 26, 1796: “The Christian religion is above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the blackguard Paine say what he will; it is resignation to God, it is goodness itself to man.”

John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, June 28, 1813: “The General Principles on which the fathers achieved independence were...the general principles of Christianity in which all the sects were united.  And the General Principles of English and American liberty...those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God....”

Statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852) (footnote to letter to Edward Sprague Rand, May 15, 1850: “The religion of the New Testament, that religion which is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles, is as sure a guide to duty in politics as in any other concern of life.”