THE BIBLE

An address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Bible Society in Boston, May 28, 1849, by Robert C. Winthrop.

Undoubtedly, Sir, the first of all charities, the noblest of all philanthropies, is that which brings the Bible home to every fireside, which places its Divine truths within the range of every eye, and its blessed promises and consolations within the reach of every heart. All other charities should follow, and, indeed, they naturally do follow, in the train of this....

Diffuse the knowledge of the Bible, and the hungry will be fed, and the naked clothed. Defuse the knowledge of the Bible, and the stranger will be sheltered, the prisoner visited, and the sick ministered unto. Diffuse the knowledge of the Bible, and Temperance will rest upon a surer basis than any mere private pledge or public statute. Diffuse the knowledge of the Bible, and the peace of the world will be secured by more substantial safeguards than either the mutual fear, or the reciprocal interests, of princes or of people. Diffuse the knowledge of the Bible, and the day will be hastened, as it can be hastened in no other way, when every yoke shall be loosened, and every bond broken, and when there shall be no more leading into captivity....

The world, which seems to outgrow successively all other books, finds still in this an ever fresh adaptation to every change in its condition and every period in its history. Now, as a thousand years ago, it has lessons alike for individuals and for nations; for rulers and for people; for monarchies and for republics; for times of stability and for times of overthrow; for the rich and the poor; for the simplest and the wisest....

Mr. President, there is a striking coincidence of dates in the history of our country, and in the history of the Bible. You remember that it was about the year 1607, that King James the First, of blessed memory for this if for nothing else, gave it in charge to fifty or sixty of the most learned ministers of his realm, to prepare that version of the Holy Scriptures, which is now everywhere received and recognized among Protestant Christians as the Bible. This version was finally published in 1611, and it is from this event that the general diffusion of the Bible may fairly be said to date.

The Bible had, indeed, been more than once previously translated and previously printed. During the two preceding centuries, there had been Wickliff's version, and Tyndale's version, and Coverdale's version, and Cranmer's version, and the Geneva Bible, and the Douay Bible, and I know not what others; and they had all been more or less extensively circulated and read, in manuscript or in print, in churches and in families, sometimes under the sanction, and sometimes in defiance of the civil and spiritual authorities....

It is, thus, only from the publication of the authorized and standard version of King James, that the general diffusion of the Holy Scriptures can be said to have commenced. It was then that the printed word of God "first began to have free course and to be glorified." And that, you remember, Mr. President, was the very date of the earliest settlement of these North American Colonies. It was just then, that the Cavaliers were found planting themselves in Jamestown in Virginia; and it was just then, that the Pilgrims, with the Bible in their hands, were seen flying over to Leyden, on their way to our own Plymouth Rock.

And now, Sir, it is not more true, in my judgment, that the first settlement of our country was precisely coincident in point of time, with the preparation and publication of this standard version of the Bible, then it is that our free institutions have owed their successful rise and progress thus far, and are destined to owe their continued security and improvement in time to come, to the influences which that preparation and publication could alone have produced.

The voice of experience and the voice of our own reason speak but one language on this point. Both unite in teaching us, that men may as well build their houses upon the sand and expect to see them stand, when the rains fall, when the winds blow, and the floods come, as to found free institutions upon any other basis than that morality and virtue, of which the Word of God is the only authoritative rule, and the only adequate sanction.

All societies of men must be governed in some way or other. The less they may have of stringent State Government, the more they must have of individual self-government. The less they rely on public law or physical force, the more they must rely on private moral restraint. Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them, or by a power without them; either by the word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible, or by the bayonet. It may do for other countries and other governments to talk about the State supporting religion. Here, under our own free institutions, it is Religion which must support the State.

And never more loudly than at this moment have these institutions of ours called for such support.... Who does not perceive in all these circumstances that our country is threatened, more seriously than it ever has been before, with that moral deterioration, which has been the unfailing precursor of political downfall? And who is so bold a believer in any system of human checks and balances as to imagine, the dangers can be effectively counteracted or averted in any other way, than by bringing the mighty moral and religious influences of the Bible to bear in our defense.

What Identifies America as a Christian Nation?

From Teaching and Learning America’s Christian History—The Principle Approach, pp. 276-280

Christian Character

America’s heritage of character comes from the first century of Christianity. This seed of Christian Character was planted by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation. The story of their struggle during the ten years in which not one went back is a story of courage, faith and steadfastness.

From the Pilgrims, the Puritans and the Patriots, Americans have a heritage of Christian Character—a character which sustained them through all the long years of a seven years’ war with England for their independence. It was only when we as a nation began to “fall away” that we also forgot our American Christian Character and our American Christian Constitution.

Christian Self-Government

The word “consent” characterizes the individual’s commitment to Christ. Entering into the commands and accepting the “covenant” of the Lord the individual Christian is self-governed.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” Hebrews 10:16.

In discussing the relationship between the Church covenant and the Mayflower Compact, the first to document of the right of self-government in America, written by the Pilgrims, the following comment is useful:

“Behind the compact lies the belief in the word of God as a higher law, the establishment of the higher law in written documents, and the formation of government by the consent of the individual.” Andrew C. McLaughlin, “The Foundations of American Constitutionalism”— 1932.

Every aspect of an individual’s life is expressed by his degree of self-government. How an individual is governed from within is always outwardly expressed. Our individual obedience to the Law of God indicates our ability to be self-governing Christians in every avenue into which our Christian citizenship carries us.

Christian Economics

Christian economics is characterized by initiative, industry, and individuality. It is manifested as the productive quality of the active Christian who in being busy about His Father’s business glorifies the Creator. Christianity has the dual aspect of promise and fulfillment—the mountaintop respite and the marketplace realization. It is both “the still small voice” of conscience as well as the “loaves and fishes” of human need. Christian economics is characterized throughout by integrity, justice, and sufficiency in every enterprise. Webster characterizes integrity as follows:

“INTEGRITY comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.” (Webster, 1856 ed.)

Webster also states in part what economy is:

“ECONOMY includes also a prudent management of all the means by which property is saved or accumulated; a judicious application of time, of labor, and of the instruments of labor.”

Christian economics is the basis of private enterprise in our country. It is more characterized as being productive and fruitful in the Word then being characterized as for profit alone. But being productive and fruitful and glorifying God in every activity brings abundance and success.

Paul admonishes Timothy to seek certification from God:

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15

The Master, commenting upon the servants and their use of the talents given unto them states that the “unprofitable” servant be cast into outer darkness. Webster defines this as: “Misproving talents; bringing no glory to God; as an unprofitable servant. Matthew 25. Not useful to others.”

In describing the American people, Charles Bancroft....states:

“Our people are busy using their liberties and energies, each for his individual benefit, as is quite right and proper; since the welfare of individuals makes the prosperity of the community. But a government left to take care of itself is prone to do that work only too well. We have done well and wisely in important crises; but a more intelligent and constant watchfulness over the ordinary course of public affairs would have been still better...

“’Knowledge is power,’ when wisely applied; and a more accurate acquaintance with their government and its history will enable American citizens to mold it more wisely still, to correct all defects of administration, and to speedily reach that minimum of governmental interference with the efforts and interests of the citizens which shall give them fullest liberty consistent with security and surrender the whole round of human life, as completely as possible to the benefficient action of natural law.”

John Locke . . . . states that God has given the world to men to use for their support and comfort and that by appropriating it for his wants man invests his labor and thus acquires title to that which he needs. But being governed by Reason each will respect the rights of all men to his “Life, Health, Liberty, or Possessions.”

The notable example of Christian Economics occurred in Plymouth when individual enterprise replaced the communal system of cooperative farming in the colony. The individual Pilgrim, being liberated to “work out his own salvation,” then became self-governing in directing his own initiative and industry and investing his own labor and efforts. His efforts in his own behalf could only benefit the community. Thus, once again, self-reliance and independence proved themselves to be more mutually beneficial to all then group enterprise and interdependence. As each individual assumes his own responsibility and becomes economically self-sufficient he is the welfare of the community instead of being dependent upon community welfare for his sufficiency. “Our sufficiency is of God” indeed when being productive in His behalf and for His glory.

Christian Education

American Christian education was the foundation for our nation’s great growth, progress and success. The rise of the individual in our country and his freedom to conduct his affairs in the manner of his own choosing was a direct outcome of the expression in American life of “the Christian idea of man.”

The colonists brought with them a tradition of Biblical scholarship and the fruition of the Reformation—the Scriptures in English. And with their Bibles they brought a determination to continue the individual study and practice of the Christian verities contained therein. Because of their sincere desire to teach their children to read the Scriptures they establish schools. Their colleges were the culmination of the need for an enlightened Ministry.

Historically American education had for its basis both a sound Christian foundation and a curriculum which had both academic and literary excellence.

Christian Unity

“For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 12:12

Farminghm, in discussing the two great elements which run through our history, local self-government and national Union makes the following statement:

“I do not purpose to study the Why of the e pluribus unum: but in order of facts that seem to show the How it came to pass—a class of events that mark the continuous blending of Diversity and Unity in the formation of the public opinion, that evolved The One from the many; or how the United States came to be the United States, free from the benumbing influences of centralization on the one hand, and from the fatal dangers of disintegration on the other.

“At every state in the progress towards this result, the two main elements of the national life are found acting in harmony. It may be useful to preface the narrative by a glance at the origin and progress of the Idea of Local Self-Government, which developed into the State, and at the Idea of Union, which developed into the nation.” —Christian History, page 149

Without the Christian foundation upon the Rock, Christ, it would look as though many came together to form one. But Paul is explicit in this point, and it is one which has consequence for our nation:

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

“But now are they many members, yet but one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:20

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” Ephesians 4:4

Because we are one in Christ our Nation is expressed as the Union of the many members—or States. Thus it has a spiritual basis upon the Rock, Christ——”and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Source: Foundation for American Christian Education, Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

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