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Benjamin Franklin: A CALL FOR PRAYER
American Rhetoric ^ | 1787 | Ben Franklin

Posted on 11/07/2020 4:29:37 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business...

(Excerpt) Read more at wallbuilders.com ...


TOPICS: History; Religion
KEYWORDS: benfranklin; prayer
(Full text)

Mr. President:

The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.

1 posted on 11/07/2020 4:29:37 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

2 posted on 11/07/2020 4:32:58 PM PST by georgiegirl (Count me Deplorable)
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To: georgiegirl

“Return to me”.....


3 posted on 11/07/2020 4:38:11 PM PST by FES0844
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To: FES0844

Heavenly Father, defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands...


4 posted on 11/07/2020 4:48:18 PM PST by georgiegirl (Count me Deplorable)
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To: FES0844

Most wonderful reading material.


5 posted on 11/07/2020 4:52:33 PM PST by Notthereyet (NotThereYet.)
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To: georgiegirl

Amen.

LORD, I thank You for what You’ve accomplished through Donald Trump up to this point. I thank You for everything You’ve protected Him from. YOU ARE A FAITHFUL GOD. We praise You through even what we do not understand. LORD, Your will is mysterious — and I know that Your plan is ETERNAL and is so much bigger than this election...And yet I pray, that somehow, pulling off a victory on behalf of our President, our nation, and all the righteous on his side is part of Your eternal plan...Please vindicate the truth of these election results. Please bring to justice those who would undermine Your just decrees. Please humble the hearts of those who do evil or abate in it even as the truth is unveiled before their very eyes. Please restore this country...Work a mighty miracle as You did in ancient times in our present day! LORD, there are still over 70 days until Inauguration Day. I pray it be a man after YOUR own heart that will take the oath of office that day. And I pray the plans of the Enemy’s camps will implode and fail in the meantime...on Your time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


6 posted on 11/07/2020 4:55:33 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Amen


7 posted on 11/07/2020 5:17:17 PM PST by CPT Clay (Q sent me)
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To: georgiegirl
and then after praying, they fought and won an impossible war....

WARRIORS people....make the LORD proud of us....

8 posted on 11/07/2020 5:18:47 PM PST by cherry
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Amen.


9 posted on 11/07/2020 6:08:56 PM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt
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