D. James Kennedy on George Washington
"FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE,
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FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN",
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SAID MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY LEE AFTER WASHINGTON HAD DIED
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AND, SURELY, HE WAS THAT.
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BUT WHAT MADE HIM SO GREAT?
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WAS HE A GREAT GENERAL?
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A GREAT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER?
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HE LED OUR TROOPS TO VICTORY IN THE
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR; HE SUPERINTENDED THE WRITING
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OF THE CONSTITUTION; HE WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED
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FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
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WAS HE A GREAT TACTICIAN OR STRATEGIST?
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A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER AN ADMINISTRATOR?
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WHAT WAS HIS GREATNESS?
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THE TRUTH, MY FRIENDS, IS THAT HE WAS NONE OF THESE.
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HE LIVED IN THE DAY OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND
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NAPOLEON, BOTH OF WHOM FAR OUTSHONE HIM AS MILITARY
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GENIUSES.
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HE MADE SOME RATHER TRAGIC BLUNDERS ON THE
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FIELD, BUT SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BRING OUR
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TROOPS THROUGH THAT LONG AND PAINFUL WAR TO
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VICTORY.
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WHAT WAS HIS SECRET?
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IT WAS SAID THAT THE CHARACTER OF GEORGE
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WASHINGTON WAS THE WONDER OF THE WORLD
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IN HIS OWN DAY.
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THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON,(WHEN WASHINGTON DIED,
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KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A BRITISH STATESMAN --
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GENERAL AND ENEMY IN THE RECENT WAR)
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SAID "THE PUREST AND NOBLEST
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CHARACTER OF MODERN TIME-POSSIBLY OF
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ALL TIME."
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THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON SAID THAT GEORGE
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WASHINGTON WAS POSSIBLY NOBLEST AND PUREST
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CHARACTER OF ALL TIME.
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AN ENEMY SAID THAT ABOUT HIM.
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BUT WHAT GAVE RISE TO THAT AMAZING CHARACTER,
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WHICH WAS THE WONDER OF THE WORLD?
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HE WAS BORN
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(IF WE TRACE BACK THE RIVER TO ITS SOURCE)
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IN A GODLY HOME.
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ON BOTH SIDES A LONG LINEAGE OF GODLINESS
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IN THAT FAMILY.
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HIS MOTHER AND FATHER WERE DEDICATED CHRISTIANS.
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HIS FATHER SPENT MUCH TIME AND GREAT PAINS TO TEACH
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GEORGE TO BE UNSELFISH, TO INSPIRE HIM WITH A LOVE
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FOR THE TRUTH, AND TO TEACH HIM TO KNOW GOD
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AND TO WORSHIP GOD.
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UNFORTUNATELY, HIS FATHER, AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON,
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DIED WHEN GEORGE WAS BUT ELEVEN YEARS OLD.
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AND THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION WAS TURNED OVER
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TO HIS MOTHER.
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WHO WAS A REMARKABLE WOMAN.
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ONE WHO HAD LIVED IN THE HOME SAID THAT EVERY DAY
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(WITHOUT EXCEPTION, FOR AT LEAST THE FIFTY YEARS THAT
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SHE HAD KNOWN HER) AFTER BREAKFAST,
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SHE'D RETIRED TO HER BEDROOM AND SPENT AN
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HOUR IN PRAYER AND IN THE READING AND STUDYING OF
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THE WORD OF GOD.
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SHE TAUGHT GEORGE THE BIBLE.
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SHE TAUGHT HIM TO PRAY.
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SHE TAUGHT HIM THE PRAYER BOOK OF THE ANGLICAN
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CHURCH, OF WHICH THEY WERE FAITHFUL MEMBERS.
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SHE ALSO TAUGHT HIM FROM VARIOUS DEVOUT AND GODLY
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BOOKS WRITTEN BY OTHERS
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SUCH AS THE FAMOUS BOOK:
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CONTEMPLATIONS: MORAL AND DIVINE,
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BY SIR MATTHEW HALE, A LEADING JURIST IN ENGLAND.
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WASHINGTON KEPT THAT BOOK ALL OF HIS LIFE.
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IT WAS FOUND IN HIS POSSESSIONS WHEN HE DIED
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COPIOUSLY UNDERLINED.
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HE USED IT DURING HIS LONG AND USEFUL LIFE.
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IT'S ALSO WITHOUT QUESTION THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS
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TRAINING THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON CAME TO A
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LIVING FAITH IN THE DIVINE SAVIOR.
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THROUGHOUT ALL OF HIS LIFE LONG,
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WHETHER AS A YOUNG MAN, AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY,
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A GENERAL, OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
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STATES, UNLESS THERE WERE SOME ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY
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WHICH CLAIMED ATTENTION, AT NINE O'CLOCK PROMPTLY
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(AND HE WAS ALWAYS PUNCTILIOUS IN HIS
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PROMPTITUDE); AT NINE O' CLOCK HE WOULD LEAVE THE
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LIVING ROOM, TAKE HIS CANDLE AND
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RETIRE TO HIS LIBRARY.
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AND THERE FROM NINE UNTIL TEN HE WAS NOT SEEN.
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THEN AT TEN HE WOULD EMERGE
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AND GO TO HIS BEDROOM.
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO
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HAPPENED TO BE IN THE HOME BECAUSE OF CERTAIN
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EMERGENCIES THAT AROSE, FOUND THAT THEY HAD TO GO
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TO THE LIBRARY TO SEEK HIS ATTENTION.
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AND THEY FOUND HIM,INVARIABLY,
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ON HIS KNEES IN FRONT OF A CHAIR,
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WITH A CANDLE ON THE STAND NEXT TO THE CHAIR,
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AND THE BIBLE OPEN BEFORE HIM-PRAYING.
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WASHINGTON ALWAYS PRAYED ALOUD IN PRIVATE,
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BUT HE ALWAYS PRAYED ALOUD AS WAS THE CUSTOM OF MANY
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PEOPLE IN THAT DAY.
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AFTER RETIRING HE WOULD ARISE
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EVERY MORNING AT 4 A.M.
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AND SPEND ANOTHER HOUR IN THE SAME ROOM,
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BEFORE THE SAME CHAIR, IN THE SAME POSTURE,
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WITH THE SAME BOOK OPEN BEFORE HIM.
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AND YOU CAN READ IN HIS DIARY CONTAINS FREQUENT
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REFERENCES TO HIS ATTENDING CHURCH,
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OFTENTIMES LISTENING TO MOVING SERMONS,
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HE COLLECTED SERMONS.
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AND WHEN HE WASN'T ABLE TO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY
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NIGHT, HE WOULD READ A SERMON TO HIS WIFE.
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HIS CHRISTIANITY CARRIED OVER NOT ONLY FROM HIS
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PRIVATE PROFESSION AND HIS PRIVATE DEVOTIONS,
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BUT ALSO INTO HIS PUBLIC LIFE.
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WHEN HE WAS IN THE ARMY AND WHEN WE WAS IN CHARGE
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OF THE FORCES DEFENDING THE COUNTRY IN THE FRENCH
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AND INDIAN WAR FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS,
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FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS THERE WAS NO CHAPLAIN.
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THOUGH HE TRIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO OBTAIN A
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CHAPLAIN FOR THE ARMY HE COULD NOT GET CONGRESS -
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GET THE OFFICERS TO PROVIDE A CHAPLAIN AND SO
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HE HIMSELF BECAME NOT ONLY THE COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF
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THE ARMY, BUT ALSO THE CHAPLAIN AND FOR TWO YEARS
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CONDUCTED WORSHIP SERVICES ON SUNDAY FOR HIS ARMY.
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IN THE PRESIDENCY, HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AND HIS
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FIRST ACT SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WAS TO BEND OVER AND
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KISS THE BIBLE ON WHICH HE HAD JUST TAKEN HIS OATH.
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THE BIBLE WHICH WAS OPEN TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS,
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BY THE WAY.
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AND THEN HE LED THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS - THE
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CHURCH FOR A TWO
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HOUR SERVICE OF WORSHIP OF COURSE HE SUPPORTED THE
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APPOINTMENT OF CHAPLAINS AND FIVE MONTHS LATER HE
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DECLARED THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION.
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IN WHICH HE CALLED UPON THE PEOPLE TO GIVE THANKS
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UNTO GOD.
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OF COURSE THERE WAS ALSO THE UNFORGETTABLE
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FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
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HE HAD A PRIVATE PIETY.
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HE WAS NOT OSTENTATIOUS IN HIS RELIGION;
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HE DID NOT WEAR IT ON HIS SLEEVE,
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BUT HE WAS NOT AFRAID OR EMBARRASSED TO BRING IT
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INTO THE MOST PUBLIC OF MEETINGS.
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IN THAT FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
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HE SAID THIS: "...
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IT WOULD BE PECULIARLY IMPROPER TO OMIT,
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IN THIS FIRST OFFICIAL ACT,
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MY FERVENT SUPPLICATIONS TO THAT ALMIGHTY BEING,
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WHO RULES OVER THE UNIVERSE,
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WHO PRESIDES IN THE COUNCILS OF NATIONS,
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AND WHOSE PROVIDENTIAL AIDS CAN SUPPLY EVERY
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HUMAN DEFECT."
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IN HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS, OF COURSE,
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HE CALLED UPON PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT RELIGION AND
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MORALITY WERE THE TWO PILLARS UPON WHICH
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GOVERNMENT REST IN.
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AND NO ONE DARE CLAIM THE TITLE OF PATRIOT THAT DID
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ANYTHING TO SUBVERT THOSE TWO TWIN PILLARS OF
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RELIGION AND MORALITY.
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HE WAS INDEED A MAN WHO WALKED HUMBLY AND
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SELF-EFFACINGLY WITH HIS GOD.
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HE CARRIED THAT SAME CONSTANCY TO THE END.
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HE SAID, WHEN HE CAME TO HIS FINAL ILLNESS,
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HE SAID, "I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD,
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HAD IT PLEASED GOD, TO DIE A LITTLE EASIER,
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BUT I DOUBT NOT THAT IT IS FOR MY GOOD."
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FEELING THAT THE HOUR OF HIS DEPARTURE WAS NEAR,
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HE ASKED EVERYONE TO LEAVE THE ROOM
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SO THAT HE MIGHT HAVE SOME TIME ALONE
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TO COMMUNE WITH HIS GOD, AS HE HAD ALL OF HIS LIFE.
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LATER THAT EVENING, WHEN HIS SECRETARY,
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TOBIAS LEAR, RETURNED, HE SAID TO HIM "TIS WELL."
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THEN FEELING THAT THE SILVER CORD WAS ABOUT TO
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BE UNLOOSED, HE TOOK HIS HAND, CLOSED HIS OWN EYES,
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FOLDED HIS ARMS ACROSS HIS CHEST, AND SAID,
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"FATHER OF MERCIES, TAKE ME TO THYSELF."
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AND HE DIED.
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THIS ONE WHOSE CHARACTER WAS THE WONDER OF THE
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WORLD AND WHOSE CHARACTER BUBBLED UP FROM THE
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FOUNTAIN OF HIS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
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AH, MY FRIEND DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
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A MORAL INDIVIDUAL? A PIOUS INDIVIDUAL?
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A GODLY INDIVIDUAL COMPARED TO GEORGE
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WASHINGTON, YOU ARE A VIRTUAL HEATHEN.
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LET ME TELL YOU THIS, HE NEVER TRUSTED ONE MOMENT
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IN THAT CHARACTER WHICH WAS THE WONDER OF THE
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WORLD; HE TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST,
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WHO WAS THE ONLY PERFECT PERSON THAT EVER LIVED.
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HE PRAYED THAT THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WOULD CLEANSE
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HIM FROM ALL OF HIS SINS; THAT HE MIGHT BE ACCEPTED
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BECAUSE OF THE MERITS, THE PERFECT CHARACTER OF JESUS
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CHRIST, AND NOT HIMSELF.
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AND IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN,
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I WOULD URGE YOU TO BE CHALLENGED AND CONVICTED
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BY THE FAITHFUL CONSTANCY OF THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE OF
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THIS MAN EVERY EVENING, EVERY MORNING.
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AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
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AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF OUR ARMIES,
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HE HAD TIME TO SPEND TWO HOURS WITH GOD IN PRAYER
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AND IN HIS WORD, BUT, OF COURSE, WE ARE TOO BUSY.
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MAY GOD - AS HE HAS TO MY LIFE -
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SPEAK TO YOUR HEARTS, THROUGH THIS MAN
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WHO WAS THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY
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MAY WE BE BETTER AMERICANS AND BETTER CHRISTIANS
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BECAUSE HE, THOUGH DEAD, YET SPEAKS TO OUR LIVES.
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MAY WE PRAY.
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FATHER, SHOULD THERE BE THOSE HERE WHO HAS VAINLY
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TRUSTED IN SOME SUPPOSED GOODNESS OF HIMSELF,
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MAY HE, WITH WASHINGTON, SAY, "O GOD,
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HAVE MERCY ON ME FOR MY VILENESS AND MY
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TRANSGRESSIONS AND THE HEINOUSNESS OF MY SIN.
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CLEANSE ME BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
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WASH ME AND RENEW ME AND MAKE ME WHITER THAN SNOW.
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FOR THE MERITS OF THY DEAR SON, O GOD,
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RECEIVE ME INTO THY BOSOM."
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AND LORD FOR THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS, MAY THEY SAY,
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"O CHRIST, I AM CONVICTED BY THIS,
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THY SERVANT AND CHILD.
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HELP ME TO BE MORE FAITHFUL,
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MORE CONSTANT IN MY LIFE."
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FOR JESUS' SAKE.
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AMEN.