This is a series of posts of adapted excepts from a book I began writing several years ago. The intent was to retrace the thinking of the American Forefathers in forming the founding documents and framing the government. The goal was to use common language and retraceable logic based on the Christian doctrine of the Forefathers. This second post discusses many of the principles found in the American Governmental underpinnings.
“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissolvable bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity” - John Quincy Adams (Federer, 1996, p. 18 ).
"Religion is the basis and foundation of government" - James Madison (Federer, 1996, p. 410 ).
"Religion is the basis and foundation of government" - James Madison (Federer, 1996, p. 410 ).
The Odyssey To America
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| Figure 1: The Geneva Bible |
The Geneva Bible was born out of persecution as translating the Bible into English to put in the hands of common people challenged the political establishment of royalty and the power base of Catholic as well as Anglican clerics during the Sixteenth century. The translators derived the Geneva Bible directly from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts using the most recent textual studies of the times. All scholarly investigation into the Geneva Bible indicated that the translators were quite accurate. The uniqueness of the Geneva Bible is the sidebar notes that clarified the verses and made references to other sections, maps, and numbering of the verses. This was also an affront to the authorities and church powers (Berry, 1969, pp. 1-11).
The Geneva Bible was very popular and printed up to 1618. Eventually, the Geneva Bible was supplanted by the 1611 version of the King James Bible. Nonetheless, the American settlers, Pilgrims, favored The Geneva Bible which most likely arrived in America in 1607 at the Jamestown Colony. Thirteen years later the Pilgrims brought the Geneva Bible on the Mayflower as the sole source of inspiration.
Early American Life
The period between the first settlers and the American Revolution circa 1607 to 1750 was Early America. Colonies such as JamesTown, established 1607, and Plymouth, established 1620, were the earliest settlements. These were particularly difficult times for Jamestown as warfare between the settlers as well as the settlers and indians persisted. Many settlers died of disease and starvation. Captain John Smith became the leader of Jamestown in 1608 and instituted a no-work-no-eat policy which was a socialized form of governance. Jamestown was under British rule and after increased numbers of settlers arrived the leadership transitioned to a Governor and advisors placing Jamestown under martial law for a time.
The Pilgrims before arriving at Plymouth, Massachusetts in November 1620 were near mutiny. The men sat down on the Mayflower including the indentured servants and chartered the Mayflower Compact, Figure 2. This document was directly influenced by a farewell letter written by Pastor John Robinson that he sent with them detailing how to set up a democracy. In the compact they established equal justice for all and would choose their leaders. This was the first document of the emerging American Republic in which they created a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This document was the Constitution of the Plymouth Colony for 70 years.
In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.
The Pilgrims before arriving at Plymouth, Massachusetts in November 1620 were near mutiny. The men sat down on the Mayflower including the indentured servants and chartered the Mayflower Compact, Figure 2. This document was directly influenced by a farewell letter written by Pastor John Robinson that he sent with them detailing how to set up a democracy. In the compact they established equal justice for all and would choose their leaders. This was the first document of the emerging American Republic in which they created a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This document was the Constitution of the Plymouth Colony for 70 years.
Mayflower Compact In Modern Language
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| Figure 2: Mayflower Compact |
The Emergence of American Democracy
The formative years from 1620 through to 1750 were during the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Common people studied and debated topics of nobility in the public sphere both in America and Europe. In America competitive systems of governance matured between the King of England's tyranny and the model emerging from the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Following 1750 the Biblical model was well understood as demonstrated by John Adams diary entry:
"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, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God... What a Eutopia, what a paradise would this region be." - John Adams on February 22, 1756.
The notion of a new form of governance was firmly in the mind of men and the nagging tyranny of the King was on the backs of men. A new form of nation and government was about to boil over.
The Biblical Concept of Nations and Governments
The Biblical nation is not like modern geopolitical nations. Biblical nations are often over large regions and tend to center on religious and ethnic heritage. God's chosen nation, the one from which Christ was to originate, is Israel. All other nations are Gentile nations. The Christian community is composed of individuals both Jewish and Gentiles. Likewise, a Holy nation is composed of both Jewish and Christians; 1Peter 1:2-9. God consciously uses all nations for his purposes: Isa 10:5-7. Israel was scattered among the nations for disobedience; Palms 9, 59,137. Meanwhile, nations that abused Israel were punished; Joel 3:12-16. In the end, all nations will gather before the Judeo/Christian God; Matt 25:31-32.
The Biblical concept of Government centers on maintaining good order of society where ultimate authority resides in God. The Biblical definition of government centers on two notions. The first notion is officials that have sovereign authority over a body of people. The second notion defines government as institutions that include the customs, mores, laws, and organizations of a collective body of people or 'body politica' as written during early America.
The Bible does discuss secular leadership in government. In 1Samuel 8 the nation of Israel prayed for a secular leader and God granted Saul then David. In this arrangement, God retained authority over morality. Thus, there is no separation of church and state according to the Bible. These governments are always subordinate to the framework of God’s will; Judges 8:23. As long as leaders carry out God’s will then those nations will prosper; Duet 16:18-20. Citizens must submit to the authorities or government; Romans 13:1-7. The common understanding of the Forefathers was that the church and state work together as long as God's framework was followed. Humans are to choose God's law over human law.
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams (Federer, 1998, pp. 10-11).
If we look to the Declaration of Independence, the Forefathers cited their grievances with other forms of government. In all, there are 27 grievances cited. Taxation was number 17 on the list indicating there were greater concerns. The greater complaints were centered on the inability to self-govern, conduct commerce, and the tyranny and harassment by the King's agencies and agents.
References:
Federer, W. (1996). America's God and Country. William J Federer, Fame Publishing, ISBN: 1-880563-05-3
Berry, L. . (1969). The geneva bible. (1560 E.D.). Hendrickson Publishers Inc: MA.
Schmidt, J. (2006). Making man in reason's image: the enlightenment and the birth of modern humanity. Barnes and Noble. ISBN-13: 9780641967221
Vattel, E. (1758). Law of nations or the principles of natural law in four books. (Electronic E.d.). Lonang Institute.
Warren, B., England, A. (2003). Holman illustrated bible dictionary: bible formation and canon. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville.
Whyte, J. (2004). Crimes against logic, McGraw-Hill: New York, ISBN 0-07-144643-5.
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