"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes;
and I shall keep it to the end."
(Psalm 119:33)
(1778)
Joseph Siffrein Duplessis
(1725-1802)
French portrait painter
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger,
we had daily prayers in this room for 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 of Providence we owe this happy opportunity of
consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.
And now have we forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine 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 can not 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
the house, 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 become
a reproach and a by-word down to future ages."
-Benjamin Franklin
Delegate to the Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(May, 1787)
According to the book, "From Boyhood to Manhood: Life of Benjamin Franklin"
by William M. Thayer , first published in 1889, the great American stateman
and Founding Father once lived an unapologetic and immoral life.
However, upon his return from a voyage to England,
Benjamin Franklin began to reflect on his active rebellion
against God and sought to revise his religious opinions.
His change of heart regarding his skepticism of the
existence of God, his rejection of deism, and his embrace
of Christianity has been the subject of much scholarly debate
over the years, however, according to Thayer's biography,
the transformation of Franklin became evident through
his personal integrity and in his approach of every day life, as
reflected through his general success in the business world of his day.
In the year 1728, Franklin wrote "Articles of Belief and
Acts of Religion" for his own use every day. His personal
ritual was to begin and close with a daily prayer.
1. Temperance-Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence-Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;
avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order-Let all your things have their places; let each part of
your business have its time.
4. Resolution-Resolve to perform what you ought; perform
without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality-Make no expense but to do good to others
or yourself; that is, waste nothing.
6. Industry- Lose no time; be always employed in something useful;
cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity- Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly;
and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice-Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation- Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so
much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness-Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes,
or habitation.
11. Tranquility-Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents,
common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity.......
13. Humility-Imitate Jesus and Socrates"
I am not sure why Franklin left the 12th virtue or "Chastity"
blank, nor if Christians should imitate Socrates the Greek sage,
as suggested in the 13th virtue. Although he is considered the
father of western philosophic thought, Socrates ended up
killing himself by swallowing poison hemlock in prison,
where he was awaiting execution for Asebeia, which in ancient
Greece was the crime of desecration or the mockery of divine objects,
or a show of defiance or irreverent behavior towards state gods.
Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, was accused of heresy by
His own people, the Jews, and sentenced to die on a Roman cross.
But unlike Socrates who drank poison to avoid his fate,
Jesus, in complete obedience to His Father, willingly went
to the cross to die for the sins of mankind. He suffered
through the horror and humiliation of crucifixion,
died, and was buried in a tomb, and, on the third day,
He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of
His Father, where He awaits His reunion with His Bride,
the Church, which was primarily established through
the teachings and writings of the apostle Paul.
Paul's "Gospel of Grace" which he received through
divine revelation from the risen Lord, became the basis
of western religion-or Christianity. Paul too, suffered
intense persecution during his lifetime, and was
eventually executed for his unshakable faith in Christ.
Along with the religious creed above, at one time, Benjamin Franklin
seriously considered organizing a "United Party of Virtue" and
wrote the following passages to compliment his earlier list of
personal virtues in the "Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion" :
That there is one God Who made all things.
He governs the world by His providence
He ought to be worshipped by adoration, prayer and thanksgiving.
The most acceptable service to God is doing good to man.
The soul is immortal.
God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice,
either here or hereafter.
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