Five Sermons | Page 9

were venturing on an
unknown sea; there were no charts to guide them, no precedents to
follow. The truth was, as Jefferson so tersely said, "The people wait for
us to lead the way. The question is not whether by a declaration of
independence we shall make ourselves what we are not, but whether we
shall declare a fact which exists." So also John Adams said, "The
Revolution was effected before the war commenced."
I cannot tell the story of the seven year's war. The articles of

confederation were sent to the States in 1778, but the last of the thirteen
States, Maryland, did not adopt them until March, 1781. Congress
under he confederacy dealt with the States and did not have the
confidence or the love of the people. It required nine States to pass any
measure of importance. During the war the confederacy was a pitiable
failure. It issued bills which no one would take, its certificates of
indebtedness and promises to pay were so worthless that it gave rise to
the proverb, "Not worth a continental." Robert Morris, the financier,
pleaded hopelessly for help. Alexander Hamilton denounced the
confederation as "neither fit for war nor peace." Even Washington,
always hopeful, wrote in 1781: "Our troops are fast approaching
nakedness; our hospitals are without medicine; our sick are without
meat; our public works are at a standstill; in a word, we are at the end
of our tether, and now or never deliverance must come." At last victory
came--thanks to the generous assistance of France, to the heroism of
leaders like Lafayette, Baron Steuben, and hosts of others, who gave us
their fortunes and hazarded their lives for America, the war was ended
by the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Victor Hugo said, "Napoleon was
not defeated at Waterloo by the allied forces. It was God who
conquered him." Who that remembers Trenton, Valley Forge, Saratoga
and Yorktown, will not say God fought for our Washington? In 1777 a
Quaker had occasion to pass through the woods near the headquarters
of the army; hearing a voice, he approached the spot, and saw
Washington in prayer. Returning home, he said to his wife: "All's well!
All's well! Washington will prevail. I have thought that no man can be
a soldier and a Christian. George Washington has convinced me of my
mistake." Peace was declared in 1783. I have a water-color of the
building used as the Department of State, in which the treaty of peace
was signed--it was a building 12 feet by 30.
In May,1787, delegates from all the States, except Rhode Island, met in
the state house in Philadelphia, with George Washington as president,
to draft a constitution for these United States. All the delegates were
convinced of the utter failure of the articles of confederation, all were
convinced of the need of a stronger government. Two parties honestly
differed and were determined to fight it out to the bitter end. At one
time it looked as if the convention must disband without effecting its
object. Franklin arose and said: "Mr. President, the small progress we

have made after five weeks is a melancholy proof of the imperfection
of human understanding--we have gone back to ancient history for
models of government--we have viewed modern states--we find none
of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances--we are groping in
the dark to find political truth, and are scarcely able to distinguish it
when presented to us. How has it happened, sir, that we have not once
thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illumine our
understandings? 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 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 to
establish our nation. Have we forgotten our powerful Friend? Do we
imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long
time, and the longer I live the more convinced I am that God governs in
the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His
notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We are
told, 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 aid we shall succeed in our 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