Abraham Lincoln, the Christian

Front matter

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State of Indiana through the Indiana State Library

Contents

PAGE

Illustrations 6

Why, The Author 7

Introduction

In writing a book on Abraham Lincoln, the Christian, the Rev. William J. Johnson has set himself a notable task, and done something well worth while. And he has not slighted the subject, but has studied it in its entirety, and produced a book that will delight all friends of Mr. Lincoln, and ought to have a wide circulation. He shows Mr. Lincoln to have been not an atheist, nor an infidel, nor an agnostic even, but a profoundly religious man — a God-fearing, a God-praying, and a Godtrusting man — believing implicitly in a Supreme Power in this universe "that makes for righteousness," and relying confidently on His overruling providence and divine guidance. If not our "first American," clearly Mr. Lincoln was one of our first — a great and typical American, not inferior even to George Washington on many lines. Or, as Lowell well said, "he was one of Plutarch's men" — one of the kind of heroes and great men old Plutarch loved to gossip about, and his name will remain "a flag among men," around which men will rally and fight for God and humanity, until the last syllable of recorded time.

His good sword is rust,

His bones are dust,

His soul is with the saints, I trust.

I count it among the greatest of my honors to have walked by his side, and shaken hands with him, and conversed with him face to face; and may God bless his memory forever!

James F. Rusling.

Trenton, New Jersey, February 17, 1910.

THE CHRISTIAN IS