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THE HISTORY fa
CONSIDERED
FROM A CHRISTIAN STAND-POINT.
By JESSE T. PECK, D.D.
WITH THIRTY-FOUR FINE STEEL PORTRAITS.
SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY.
t P NEW YORK: BROUGHTON AND WYMAN, 13 BIBLE HOUSE,
O^AJf , X"
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
JESSE T. PECK, D.D.,
I« the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Stales for the Southern District of New Yorlc.
To
Rev. Reuben Reynolds, who taught him the alphabet, and afterwards, at an important period of life, determined the sphere of his studies and labors ; to the memory of his deceased sister, Elizabeth, who gave him all the valuable instructions in the art of speaking he ever received, and by the force of whose clear, thorough teaching, and elevated Christian womanhood, his young mind was filled with noble aspirations; to Amos R. Avery, M.D., whose gentle words^ and kind, persistent efforts, in the schoolroom and elsewhere, strongly aided his struggling boyhood ; to Rev. Henry Halstead, under whose searcliing appeals, on the day of his conversion, he was powerfully convinced of sin ; to Rev. D. D. Whedon, D.D., one of his earliest and best classical teachers, and who inspired his first hope of success in the use of the pen ; to his excellent brother, George Peck, D.D., who in his childhood tenderly bore him to school, who with truly paternal care superintended his education and preparation for the ministry, and whose character as a man and minister has ever been his noblest model ; to Rev. E. Foster, who almost literally compelled him to write this book ; and his faithful Wife, to whose energetic promptings, and constant, earnest encouragement, ke must refer all his important literary enterprises, —
This Work
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.
Embellishments.
, FINE STEEL PORTRAITS.
COLUMBUS.
ROGER WILLIAMS.
COTTON MATHER.
WASHINGTON.
JOHN ADAMS.
BISHOP ASBURY.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
JOHN JAY.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
PATRICK HENRY.
JONATHAN EDWARDS.
CHIEF-JUSTFCE MARSHALL.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
HENRY CLAY.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
CHIEF-JUSTICE McLEAX.
THEODORE FRELLNGHUYSEN.
ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER.
CHARLES SUMNER.
MAJOR-GENERAL MITCHELL ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
SAMUEL LEWIS.
FRANCIS WAYLAND.
GENERAL GRANT.
BISHOP McILVAINE.
BISHOP SIMPSON.
COMMODORE FOOTE.
CHIEF-JUSTICE CHASE.
MA.JOR-GENERAL HOWARD.
GEORGE T. DAY.
GEORGE PEABODY.
GEORGE H. STUART.
SCHUYLER COLFAX.
THE AUTHOR.
Preface
The time has come for the reconsideration of the history of the United States. The moral revohition which our recent struggle has developed indicates the existence of profounder principles and a loftier purpose in the origin, structure, and development of the Great Republic, than any heretofore distinctly recognized by historical writers. American history, within the last few years, has brought out vices so deep and threatening, has shown in collision forces so formidable and terrific, and has revealed a moral grandeur so far above the precedents of modern civilization, that there is reason to believe the wisest men of our times will be compelled to reconstruct their theories of government and of the powers and destiny of man.
The stand-point which reveals distinctly the force by Avhich the improbabilities of our progress have been achieved must be more commanding than any which has heretofore only shown to the world an energetic people struggling for ascendency among the nations of the earth. If we are to obtain a view of the real contents of our historical globe, it must certainly be by a clearer light and a more searching examination than any which have thus far revealed only its outer crust.
I am aware that I thus present the problems of American and also of general history in a way to make any attempt to solve them appear formidable and ambitious. It may well be supposed that the writer would enter upon a task of such difiiculty and magnitude with timid shrinking and very humble anticipations. His only explanation is, that the theory of moral and political as well as physical phenomena, if true, when once clearly defined, is very simple. If, from the fragmentary or elaborate teachings of clear minds and able pens along the line of narrative or philosophical history, or from the revelations of the Holy Bible and the Divine Providence, or by a candid, thorough, prayerful scrutiny of the events of his times, he has been able to identify and clearly express the true and only principle which can adequately explain the facts of our remarkable career, then he, or any man of good common under-
vii
Vm PREFACE.
standing, may search and think and write profitably, though by no means exhaustively, in the use of that principle.
Let it therefore be stated, that the theory of this book is, that God is the rightful, actual Sovereign of all nations ; that a i^urpose to advance the human race beyond all its precedents in intelligence, goodness, and power, formed this Great Hepuhlic ; and that religion is the only life-force and organizing power of liberty. If this is true, then all writers of American history must rise to this point of observation, or fail.
It may be stated, without ostentation, that the writer has been, for at least a quarter of a century, a careful student of his country's history ; this, however, without a thought of attempting any of the functions of an historian. But gradually the principles recognized in this book assumed distinctness and organic form in his views and convictions. In their light, he entered, with all his powers of mind and heart, into the spirit of the late war, on the freedom side, and waited, with perfect composure and without a doubt, for the final result.
When the war closed, he felt, and frequently said, that a new book of America must be written. He watched for its announcement, but failed to see it. He was at length surprised to find himself urged to undertake the task ; and, after much hesitancy and delay, he came to feel that it was his imperative duty to commence, and leave the event with God.
Incapable, as he trusts, of the absurdity of any pretensions to originality in discovering either principles or methods of the divine government, or of having in any sense superseded the labors of other men, he simjily claims to have made, with perfect candor and some thoroughness, his humble contribution to what must be admitted to be a very important, if not in some sense a newly-defined, method of American history.
He now commits his work to the candid consideration of his readei-s and to the direction of Providence. If the devout recognition of God in the character, purposes, and history of this country and government shall be increased, and the loyalty of the American people to the great Sovereign of nations in any degree strengthened, the object of the author will be accomplished.
JESSE T. FECK.
Albany, ycptembcr, 1867.
ANALYSIS AND AUTHOKITIES.
The Republic is here presented in five periods. The Period of Preparation extends from the discovery of America to the well-defined mind-battles which introduce the War of the Revolution. It will be illustrated by the likeness of Columbus, as the great rej^resentative of the spirit of enterprise which manifested itself in discovery and colonization.
The Period of Independence extends through the Revolutionary War to the adoption of the Constitution and the inauguration of the first President. As the only possible suggestion of history upon the subject, the likeness of Washington introduces this discussion.
The Period of Development includes the unprecedented growth of the country up to the time of our Great Civil War. This, let it be observed, is the growth of liberty and of good government under the control of Christianity, — the enlightening, liberalizing power which has conserved and developed our free institutions, and goes largely to account for our material prosperity. Seeking for some one man whose character, labors, and influence represent the largest, most pervading power of religion over the masses, and whose methods of evangelism have wrought most potentially in purifying and elevating our voting freemen, I have been pointed, by an inevitable historical necessity, to Francis Asbury. A superb likeness of this grand pioneer Christian hero will therefore be found as the introduction to the Third Period.
The Period of Emancipation includes the great contest of liberty with the slave-power, and means, not the liberation of slaves alone, but of the nation. In the Period of Preparation, I speak of African slavery ; but, in the Fourth Period, of American slavery and the emancipation of the Republic. Abraham Lincoln takes his true historical position here.
In the Fifth Period, we glance at our country's future ; and we stand before it with astonishment and awe, overwhelmed by the visions of greatness which rise up before us. No man could fitly represent this coming grandeur. We give you a likeness ; but we mean by it express-
2 ANALYSIS AND AUTHORITIES,
ly to symbolize the genius of religion acting through science and heroism for the security and development of the Great Republic of the future. Gen. Mitchell was a Christian, a scholar, a hero. After a brief but brilliant military career, he fell in his country's cause. He will, therefore, never dishonor the symbol we have adopted.
Besides these five representative figures, we insert four groups of distinguished Americans, all acknowledged Christians, or men who have received their distinction from their Christian birth, education, and principles. The first is a group of distinguished philanthropists. We have selected these men from the large number of noble Americans whom we deem most worthy of honor as lovers of their race.
The second is a group taken from the number of our great statesmen and orators,
Tlie third is a group of celebrated American divines. They represent the thorough Puritan and six different Christian denominations : and, taken together, they are distinguished among the hosts of Christian ministers who can be claimed exclusively by no church ; whose reputation and influence as teachers of religion, and leaders of soul-liberty, make them truly nationaL
The fourth is a group of civilians and warriors, whose oj^inions and acts have entered largely into the history of American jurisprudence and of the emancipation of the nation. Here also the choice has been from a large number of truly great and national men, with the idea of representing true Christianity, either direct and personal or generally diffused, from different periods of our history, and portions of our country.
Our readers will discover that this volume, though not professing to present the full details of our country's progress, will answer the most valuable purposes of a new history of the United States, groujnng the more important events, and using them, with a large number of facts not in any of our histories, to present to the American people a truthful picture of the Great Republic as it is and ought to be.
Among the most valuable works quoted in this volume, it gives us pleasure to mention Bancroft's and Hildreth's Histories of the United States ; Cooper's Naval History of the United States ; Greene's Historical View of the American Revolution ; The Pulpit of the American Revolution; Sir Morton Pcto's Resources and Pi-ospects of America; Stevens's History of the Methodist-Episcopal Church ; Baird's Religion in America; Statistical History, by Goss; Partridge on the Making of the American Nation and on Democracy; The Power of Prayer, by Irenajus Prime ; The American Conflict, by Greeley ; America Before Europe, by Count de Gasparin ; Decisive Battles of the War, by Swinton ; The Eiglith Census of the United States, by Kennedy ; Our Country, its Trials and Triumphs, by George Peck, D.D. ; Mineral Re-
ANALYSIS AND AUTHORITIES. 3
sources of the United States, by J, Ross Brown and James M. Taylor ; and Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, by B. F. Morris, — a valuable " compilation," which the writer had not seen until half of the copy of this work, including the Preface, had been sent to the printer. The author would also gratefully acknowledge his obligations to Alexander Delmar, Director of the Bureau of Statistics at Washington, for important public documents; and to his friends, named in the proper places, for valuable papers contributed from their respective points of observation. If the authors of quotations have been inadvertently omitted in our notes of reference, we hope this general acknowledgment may be deemed sufficient.
In addition to the above, the author has consulted God in History, by Reed ; God in History, by Gumming ; The Civil Policy and Civil War of America, by Draper ; Wyoming, its History and Romantic Adventures, by George Peck ; New-York Convention Manual, by Hough ; Appleton's American Cyclopaedia ; Grant and Sherman, their Campaigns and Generals, and Farragut and our Naval Commanders, by Headley; The Lost Cause, by Pollard ; The Women of the War, by Frank More; Putnam's Rebellion Record ; and a great variety of official documents and reports.
Chapter VI. The Southern Gkopp Completed
Delaware 6'?
Nortli Carolina Gt>
South Carolina 71
Georgia 76
Review 80
CHAPTER VU.
A NEW ENGLAND EMERGES FROM THE OLD.
Puritanism in England 85
The Puritans become Pilgrims in Search of Liberty 91
The Pilgrims have found Liberty 93
CHAPTER Vni.
COLONIZATION AND LIBERTY IN MASSACIICSETTS.
The Men and the Time 102
Plymoutli Colony 104
Liberty reveals her Form and Strength 105
Colonies increase ............ 107
Christianity and Freedom in Massachusetts 112
Limitations of Liberty in Massachusetts . . 1H>
CHAPTER IX.
THE NORTHERN GROUP COMPLETED.
Maine 121
New PLampshire 124
Pennsylvania H2
The Great West 147
l'i-ovidencc and War-discipline • 149
CONTENTS.
PERIOD II. — INDEPENDENCE.
Chapter I. Mind-battles Point To A Disin'tiiralled National Life
The Right of Soil 152
The Rights of Trade 156
The Right of Representation and Free Legislation 158
The Right of Taxation 161
The Right of Free Speech, a Free Ballot, and a Free Press 163
The Right of Constitutional Liberty, and of Union for the Common Defence . 107
All these Rights denied, but never surrendered 173
Struggles of Religious and Civil Liberty in America 182
Accessory Forces 189
A New Inspiration 200
CHAPTER IL
THE TIME CHOSEN SHOWS THE PROVIDENTIAL ADVENT OF THE NATIONAL LIFE.
Historical Cycles must precede 208
Despotic Governments and Imperishable Ideas 209
The Grand Crisis of History 211
Chapter IX. True Christianity An Indestructible National Life
The Religious Element in the Formation of the Republic 320
The Religion of the Nation ia Official Acts and Public Men .... 325 The Religion of America constructs a Grand and Durable Government . . 332
PERIOD III. — DEVELOPMENT.
Chapter I. Development Of Population
Increase of Population 336
Sources of Population 337
Character of Population 338
The American Race 342
Chapter II. Development Of Liberty
Personal Liberty 349
Justice and Loyalty in Liberty 350
Education and Religion in Lil)crty . 351
Extent and S)>Iiere of Liberty 353
CHAPTER in.
DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT.
A Popular Government 356
A ReprcscnUitive Government 358
CONTENTS. 9
A National Government 360
A Responsible Government 366
A Strong Government 368
Chapter IV. Development Of Internal Besoubces
Products of the Soil 376
Manufactures and Machines 380
Precious Metals 384
Other Minerals and Ores 392
Chapter V. Development Of Commerce
Value of Exports 406
Imports and Exports 408
Internal Commerce 410
Shipping • » . 413
Chapter VI. Development Of The Wab-poweb
Self-respect of the Nation 416
Sandwich and Queenstown 419
Naval Engagements 421
Campaigns from the West and East 425
Washington and Baltimore 429
Plattsburg .431
New Orleans 433
CHAPTER Vn.
DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNING AND THE ARTS.
Public Schools 438
Sunday Schools 442
Academies 446
Colleges and Universities 448
The Press 452
Steam Navigation 455
Railroads 457
The Safety Steam-generator 461
Telegraphy 463
Architecture , 468
Painting 470
Sculpture 472
Photography 476
Chapter VIII. Development Of Manhood And Humanity
True Manhood 479
Asylums for the Deaf and Dumb 482
10 CONTENTS.
Asylums for the Blind 484
Asylums for the Insane 486
Asylums for Idiots and Inebriates 490
Chapter IX. Development Of Natural Depeavitt
Intemperance 492
Licentiousness . 49.")
Socialism and Spiritism 496
Mormonism 499
Corruption in Religion and Politics 504
Chapter X. Development Of True Religion
The Protestant-Episcopal Church 513
Congregational Churches 518
The Baptist Church 523
The Presbyterian Church 530
The Methodist-Episcopal Church 537
Other Churches 545
The American Bible Society 552
The American Sunday-school Union ......... 553
T'he American Tract Society, Boston 554
The American Tract Society, New York 554
The American Seamen's Friend Society . . . . . . . . 550
Young Men's Christian Association ......... 557
The Great Revival 560
Pervading Christianity . ........... 561
PERIOD IV. — EMANCIPATION.
Chapter I. American Slavery
Men enslaved 564
Mind subjugated 565
(lOvernment inthrallcd 566
Civilization fettered . 568
The Press and the Pulpit bound 569
CHAPTER n.
THE GREAT MORAL CONFLICT.
Christianity revolts 573
Humanity pleads 576
Justice denounces 579
Political Parties temporize 581
The Strain and the Recoil 583
Another Grand Crisis in History .......... 587
CONTENTS. 11
CHAPTER in.
THE WAR OF SLAVERY AND FREEDOM.
Secession 590
Treason and Rebellion 593
Fort Sumter 598
Providential Adjustments 601
Bull Run 604
Ball's Bluff 612
Port Royal 614
Roanoke Island 617
Fort Donelson 619
Forts Jackson and St. Philip 625
'• The Monitor " and " The Merrimack " 631
The Peninsula 634
Antietam . 641
Yicksburg 643
Fredericksburg 646
Gettysbui-g 648
Shenandoah Valley 655
Lookout Mountain 636
The Bloody March to Richmond 659
The Triumphal March from Atlanta to the Sea 662
Richmond 663
Christianity and the War 666
Murderous Revenge 672
CHAPTER IV.
THE TRIUMPH OF r>IBERTY.
The Great Proclamation 676
Black Warriors 677
The Victories of Blood and of Truth 679
The Great Amendment 680
PERIOD v. — MISSION.
CHAPTER I.
THE NEW NATION.
Organic Unity and Regenerated Patriotism 686
The Transition 687
Impartial Suffrage 689
Universal Education 690
The New American Church 692
The New American Manhood 694
12 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER n.
THE GREAT REPUBLIC IN HISTORY.
Republicanism passes out of its Experimental into its Historical Period . . 698
The People, as Sovereigns, advance to the Rank of a First-class Power . . 700
Population, and Influence Abroad 700
The Nations of Earth acknowledge, respect, and trust the Great Republic . . 702
CHAPTER m.
GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN.
Rebellion is Ruin 705
Loyal Obedience is Safety and Success 706
The United States a great Christian Power 707
The Representative of Progress 709
THE GREAT REPUBLIC.
Introduction
THE GOD OF NATIONS.
I PROPOSE to examine the history of the United States of America from a Christian stand-point.
The divine administration of human affairs is a profound study. There is reason to believe that no event in that administration stands alone; that, however small or comparatively unimportant, it must be in some way intimately related to the grand scheme of a general Providence. I am well aware that an effort to ascertain the position of the great American Republic in that scheme, and correctly interpret the acts of God in its origin, structure, and government, is a very grave responsibility; and I make th6 attempt with much self-distrust, but with humble dependence upon God for help.
Our task requires careful attention to the teachings of history in regard to the asserted rights of divine sovereignty.
The Hebrew commonwealth as well as the Jewish church was a theocracy. The great Father sought thus to realize the highest idea of government among men. He appeared in personal form, revealing a glory infinitely above the glory of man. He uttered words of deepest tenderness and love, of highest wisdom and authority, that the people might be subdued by his grace, and awed by his power. He traced their laws upon tablets of rock, and openly took upon himself the vindication of their rights, and the punishment of their crimes, that they might know and love and fear their true and righteous Governor.
The Hebrews, in their folly, became restless under this direct divine administration. Faith became unsteady, and national sins obscured the spiritual power in wdiich they had been accustomed to confide. From the example of surrounding nations, they were seized with an unconquerable desire for a human sovereign. Had it been the recognition of a human representative of divine sovereignty, there had been no curse in it. But as events showed, and God revealed, it was the practical rejection of Jehovah as the supreme civil authority of the nation ; and endless direftd calamities followed. "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee : for they have not rejected thee ; but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." God permitted this uprising of human rebellion that its extreme wickedness might appear. But he did not abdicate the throne : thereafter, as before, he asserted all the rights of unimpaired sovereignty. Let the summary judgments which fell upon the nation, the anointing and dethroning of kings, the slaughters and discomfitures in battle, the captivity in Babylon, and the destruction of Jerusalem, attest the fact, that the rebellion of man has no tendency to destroy or supersede the sovereignty of God.
THE GOD OF ANCIENT GENTILE PEOPLES.
Special divine government does not exclude, but reveals, the general. It does not show the limitation, but the method, of governmental prerogatives. Mistaken inferences from his evident sovereignty over one nation are corrected by authority. In another connection, but conclusively here, St. Paul demands, " Is he the God of the Jews only ? Is he not also
THE GOD OF NATIONS. 15
of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." Broadly and triumphantly it is asserted, as in the Psalms, " God is the King of all the earth." Grant that earthly potentates reject him, and attempt to usurp his throne : faithful history reveals him still " the Lord of lords, and King of kings."
The four great monarchies of the East filled up the space allowed them in human history ; and, one after another, the divine Sovereign laid them aside. The prophet of God foresaw these startling events, and yet another of grander proportions and significance : "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom w^hich shall never be destroyed ; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these kingdoms ; and it shall stand forever : " showing the consummation of all special purposes in one great, general purpose, — the subordination of all anti-Christian civil powers to the rio;hteous rule of God's Messiah.
So the giving of the ceremonial and civil law to the Jews, only organized preparatory events for the grand inauguration of that universal government, whose laws of order were written on Sinai with the finger of God, and whose law of liberty was traced on Calvary in the blood of the Redeemer.
The great Jehovah msibly exercised the rights of sovereignty over Abraham and his descendants ; but he was none the less arbiter of events in Egypt and Assyria. The God who guided Israel through the sea and the desert and Jordan dashed down the walls of Jericho, and overthrew the vile idolaters of Canaan. The right to colonize the Hebrews impUed the right to make summary disposition of the corrupt nations, whose crimes had forfeited all rights in the land " flowing with milk and honey."
He whose sovereignty punished rebellious Israel brought proud Babylon into the dust. He whose justice overwhelmed guilty Jerusalem buried the dishonored glory of
Tyre and Athens and Rome. Cyrus and Alexander and Tamerlane were as verily the chosen instruments of his sovereign power as Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, or Titus. He was no more a sovereign over the remnant of Israel than over the hosts of Sennacherib when
" The Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed."
The history of the divine government, as set forth in the Bible, and in contemporaneous records so far as they extend, shows clearly that God claimed to be the Supreme Ruler of all nations, and that they rose and fell under the control of his omnipotent hand.
THE GOD OF MODERN NATIONS.
Because distinct acts of divine sovereignty are recorded in sacred history of ancient peoples and kingdoms only, is it hence to be inferred that modern nations have no God ? Did he assert his divine prerogatives over Palestine and Egypt and Rome, and renounce all control over England and France, Austria and Prussia, Russia and America ? Was he scrupulously exact to watch over the establishment of laws and dynasties, and punish national crimes, in olden times? and is he indifferent to the same great events amid the ongoings and upheavals of later days ? Was it only in the days of Saul and Rehoboam, Xerxes and Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar, that it could be truthfully said, " For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south : but God is the Judge ; he putteth down one, and setteth up another " ?
To affirm this, it would be necessary to show, with respect to rights, that asserted acts of divine control were then a usurpation ; or that the human race has somehow since outgrown the obligations of allegiance to the great Sovereign of the universe; or that the government of God is based upon accidental facts, and not upon unalterable relations. Who would dare to assert either ?
THE GOD OF NATIONS. 17
To say this with respect to probabilities, it must be assumed that the divine nature has changed ; so that he has lost his regard for the right, or his fatherly concern for his suffering children on earth ; so that he has now no purpose to avenge the victims of an unjust judge, to arrest the proud career of oppression, to execute justice and judgment in the earth. It must be shown that his known interferences, by omnipotent crushing power, with nations and sovereigns whose iniquities rose to heaven, were the result of accident or impulse rather than of essential rectitude and immutable principles. What man would dare to be so irreverent as to say this ?
To affirm that the government of God over nations is unnecessary, it must be assumed that men as individuals need divine law, supervision, and aid, but, when organized into communities, they lose their dependence and responsibility ; that it is of the utmost importance to have divine control over the minutest acts which bear upon the individual, but none whatever over those momentous volitions which realize or crush the dearest hopes of millions ; that the moral element perishes as soon as the life of society becomes organic, and indefinitely powerful for weal or woe ; that, as individuals, our fellow-citizens are responsible to God, but as legislative, judicial, and executive officers, they are wholly unaccountable to him ; that a government can have no God, no religion, no Bible, no prayers, no account to render to '^ the Judge of all the earth ; " that the safety of the nation is wholly in the wisdom and patriotism of men, or subject to the mad ambition of demagogues, and the accidental whirl of political campaigns, with no pitying eye looking down from heaven, no hope from the interference of omnipotent justice, no retribution awaiting the blood-thirsty tyrant. He who has such ideas of God and man, of goodness and sin, might assert that there is no necessity for practical divine sovereignty over nations.
Finally, to deny the certainty of just as all-seeing and all-pervading a control over modern as over ancient nations, one must ignore all prophecy and all history. See what subduing of kingdoms appears, what breaking-down of oppression, what turning and overturning, what arraignments of rulers, what "gnawing of tongues for pain," what outbeamings of the Sun of Righteousness, showing that the grand prophetic era hastens when "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." See with what unerring accuracy, as in past ages, history is literally recording the events of prophecy.
As certainly, therefore, as it is now as ever the right of God to reign ; that he is now, as in ancient times, the common Father of our guilty race, the unchangeable " Judge of all ^e earth ; " that his great and free volitions are controlled by principles of unerring righteousness; that men are, of themselves, blind and reckless in regard to the dearest interests of man, and wickedness is intensified by power, so that there is actually no hope for the down-trodden, but in God, — as sure as the verification of prophecy by inevitable history, so certainly is Jehovah to-day the Sovereign of all nations ; and the American Republic is responsible to him.
TTUj-'ijSJl.:ffan. H. Y. from. an. old P'
PERIOD I.
PREPARATION.
CHAPTER I.
THE DISCOVERY
" The history of the world is nothing but the development of the idea of freedom. Philosophy concerns itself only with the glory of the idea mirroring itself in history, and the process of its development. That history is this process of development, and realization of spirit, is the justification of God in history." — Hkgel.
The old civilization required a new life. The race demanded an accession of ideas, a new theatre for the exercise of its powers and the realization of the divine purpose in the creation. Up to near the close of the fifteenth century, human governments had revealed little more than the struggles of liberty with the repressions of despotism ; and God evidently intended a new and nobler development of the human race, a larger sphere for the manifestation of his providence and the exposition of his plans of sovereign control over individuals and nations.
He had given to man, as man, a strong love of liberty, the due expression and proper growth of which required room for free and independent action. Amid the despotic governments of the Old World, this would have been a moral impossibility. Such contiguity to old corrupt forms would have resulted inevitably in the infection of any new system, however just in itself On the side of oppression, there was power; and a novel theory must have room and opportunity to experiment.
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