Browsed by
Tag: Jesus

Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

Continental Congress November 1, 1777 During the War of Independence, the Continental Congress approved several proclamations of prayer. At this point, the proclamations were overtly Christian (“through the Merits of Jesus Christ”). This proclamation, like others, not only thanks for God’s support in the war but also asked for His forgiveness the Colonists “manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favour” from God. IN CONGRESS November 1, 1777 FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore…

Read More Read More

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790

Benjamin Franklin March 9, 1790 This was Franklin’s final and most famous description his personal faith. He offers a concise “creed” and expresses skepticism about the Divinity Jesus. He died the next month, on April 17, at the age of 85. Stiles was President of Yale College. Philada March 9. 1790 Reverend and Dear Sir, I received your kind Letter of Jany 28, and am glad you have at length received the Portraits of Govr Yale from his Family, and…

Read More Read More

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 1763

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 1763

Benjamin Franklin June 6, 1763 George Whitefield was a leader of the Great Awakening, a period of evangelical resurgence around 1838-1840. Though Franklin disagreed with Whitefield theology, he helped promote his efforts by publicizing him in the Pennsylvania Gazette, which he owned. However, he disagreed with Whitefield’s notion that the grace of God, rather than good works, determined salvation. FOR my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors, but…

Read More Read More

Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

Congressional Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 1, 1777

IN CONGRESS November 1, 1777 FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence, but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just…

Read More Read More

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803

Thomas Jefferson April 21, 1803 Dear Sir, –In some of the delightful conversations with you, in the evenings of 1798–99, and which served as an anodyne to the afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then laboring, the Christian religion was sometimes our topic; and I then promised you, that one day or other, I would give you my views of it. They are the result of a life of inquiry & reflection, and very different from that…

Read More Read More