America's Beginnings

America’s Beginnings
Christian or Not?
by steve nixon

Recently I was talking with someone and made the comment that America was founded to be a Christian nation, and part of that founding’s purpose was to spread Christianity to the world. He debated my comments for a short time and then asked where I got my information. I have believed my statements about the founding of America for many years, having heard of the comments and laws passed by many of our founding fathers. I have believed those statements and laws just as assuredly as I know that two plus two equals four. It never hurts to verify what we almost instinctively know however, especially when trying to share this understanding with someone else. After all, I wouldn’t expect someone to believe me just because “I said so”. So, proof was in order, and I went to the Internet and quickly found original statements of the founding fathers themselves. I quickly found nine pages of direct quotes from some of the founding fathers (of which there were over two hundred of such men). These quotes are actual quotes, not quotes of quotes or quoting paraphrases. The first three quotes relate to one of the initial goals and purposes for colonizing America;

The First Charter of Virginia (granted by King James I, on April 10, 1606)
• We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God…

William Bradford
• wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
• 1) "a better, and easier place of living”; and that “the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]“
• 2) “The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world"
The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620 | Signing of the Mayflower painting | Picture of Compact “Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”

Just a few of the other quotes I found in those nine initial pages are listed below;
John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]
Samuel Adams:
“ He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all… Our forefathers opened the Bible to all.” [ "American Independence," August 1, 1776. Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia]

“ Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.” [October 4, 1790]
Benjamin Franklin:
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech
In Benjamin Franklin's 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."
In 1787 when Franklin helped found Benjamin Franklin University, it was dedicated as "a nursery of religion and learning, built on Christ, the Cornerstone."
Alexander Hamilton:
• Hamilton began work with the Rev. James Bayard to form the Christian Constitutional Society to help spread over the world the two things which Hamilton said made America great:
(1) Christianity
(2) a Constitution formed under Christianity.
“The Christian Constitutional Society, its object is first: The support of the Christian religion. Second: The support of the United States.”
On July 12, 1804 at his death, Hamilton said, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I look to Him for mercy; pray for me.”
"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests." [1787 after the Constitutional Convention]
"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man."
Benjamin Rush:
• “I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them…we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this Divine Book, above all others, constitutes the soul of republicanism.” “By withholding the knowledge of [the Scriptures] from children, we deprive ourselves of the best means of awakening moral sensibility in their minds.” [Letter written (1790’s) in Defense of the Bible in all schools in America]
• “Christianity is the only true and perfect religion.”
• “If moral precepts alone could have reformed mankind, the mission of the Son of God into our world would have been unnecessary.”
"Let the children who are sent to those schools be taught to read and write and above all, let both sexes be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education”
George Washington:
Farewell Address: The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion" ...and later: "...reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle..."

“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”
“What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” [speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779]
"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian" [May 2, 1778, at Valley Forge]
During his inauguration, Washington took the oath as prescribed by the Constitution but added several religious components to that official ceremony. Before taking his oath of office, he summoned a Bible on which to take the oath, added the words “So help me God!” to the end of the oath, then leaned over and kissed the Bible.
There are volumes written of direct quotes from the founding fathers regarding their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and supporting no other religion than Christian and they are easily researched on the Internet.
I gave these quotes along with a few others to the person I had the short debate with, who in turn handed me fifty-nine pages of his own material also having quotes of some of the founding fathers. Initially, I found these pages quite disturbing, not only for their content, but for the author’s very obvious animosity toward Christians. Especially in regards to calling Christians weak, mindless, seeking to enslave the world into their own sense of morality, and blaming all Christians for the evils of Catholicism concerning their over-burdening people with heavy taxes and the horrors caused by The Crusades. I did try pointing out that not everyone, even masses of people, that ‘call’ themselves ‘Christian’truly ‘are’ Christians. Christians are those that ‘follow scripture,’ not following ‘men’ or ‘armies’ whose actions are contrary to God’s word. The Crusades, and the actions of the medieval Catholic churches were certainly not following the guidelines of scripture! Nevertheless, I had to realize something from reading that man’s fifty-nine pages of anti-Christian material; that we, as people, tend to form opinions and philosophies based on what input we have received to base those opinions upon. If all we read of the founding of America were the comments of non-believers, atheist, deists or theists, we would come to the conclusion that America was in no way founded on the Christian faith or ideals. Likewise, we would come to the conclusion that ALL pilgrims and founding fathers were devout Christians if all we learned were quotes from the faithful. In any group of political leaders there will be some, following the mainstream of opinion of their era, who say one thing about a subject then contradict what they have said to please those who think otherwise. Remember too, that what some may say while they are adherents of their beliefs, may later denounce those things because of their own lack of commitment to what they had previously believed. In other words; there have always been those who make honest sincere statements concerning Christianity then turn from the faith and make statements of denial.

Most of those fifty-nine pages were purely dismissible; being not direct quotes at all, but rather quotes from authors who were giving their own biased opinions. Predominately, the anti-Christian quotations of the actual founding fathers, were from three men. Three. These three men are Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. These three men were great statesmen and patriots, and at one time had been right-standing Christians, but were either non-Christian at the time of their actions or words which were quoted, or had their ‘own brand’ of Christianity apart from the guidelines of scripture, in other words they were like a lot of people through the ages that ‘called’ themselves Christians but were not so; at least, not according to God’s word. One way or another the men were not truly Christian. So we have three men, being quoted by many anti-Christian authors, along with the author’s own opinions, and the end product seems like a ‘lot of material’.

So let’s look at those three men, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

(The information concerning Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams is easily and readily found on the Internet simply by typing in the name of each person in the search bar).

Thomas Paine, according to the online encyclopedia was an English pamphleteer (a person who writes pamphlets on controversial issues), a revolutionary, radical and an inventor. But above all, he was a deist. A deist, is a person who believes in the existence of a God, a supreme being, a creator of the universe, but rejects attributing supernatural happenings as a divine intervention. He believes in a God, but not necessarily the God of the old and New Testaments as the One and Only God. Thomas Paine wrote a book named ‘The Age of Reason’ supporting deism while denouncing Christianity and said “The opinions I have advance…are the effect of the most clear and long-established conviction that the Bible and the Testament are impositions upon the world, that the fall of man, the account of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and of his dying to appease the wrath of God, and of salvation, by that strange means, are all fabulous inventions, dishonorable to the wisdom and power of the Almighty; that the only true religion is Deism, by which I then meant, and mean now, the belief of one God, and an imitation of his moral character, or the practice of what are called moral virtues – and that it was upon this only (so far as religion is concerned) that I rested all my hopes of happiness hereafter.” Concerning religion, he wrote in The Age of Reason “I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.” Thomas Paine also wrote the Rights of Man, a book of radical anti-christian ideas that was so powerful and persuasive that it influenced the French Revolution! I’ll confess that I used to think the French Revolution was about the extreme hardships of the poor of France while the aristocracy enjoyed lavish riches without compassion of its own poor. That is only partially true. The whole truth is that their war was also to remove Christianity (or at least what was ‘called’ Christianity in those days) from the entire country. They banned the church, deported or killed all the priest who refused to recant their religion, gutted the churches and replaced church statuary with their own goddess; “The Goddess of Reason.” And there was Thomas Paine. A persuasive, radical, Christian hating author right in the middle of it.

Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson proclaimed himself to be a Christian, and before the revolution he was an active Christian acting as vestryman (on office of position in the church with related duties). Following the revolution Jefferson took an active role ensuring freedom of religion in Virginia and was Governor of the state of Virginia in 1780. Apparently though, Jefferson’s view had begun to change and, based on some Jefferson’s statements that sounded like he was being affected by deist philosophy. In fact, during his campaign for presidency in 1800 his opposition, the Federalists, accused him of being an infidel and a deist. He became a supporter of guess who?, Thomas Paine. He also became a sympathizer of the French revolution (yes, the one that tore down churches, replacing statues of Jesus with the Goddess of Reason). He won the election and became president, but continued his apostasy from the foundational beliefs of traditional Christianity, finally becoming, as Thomas Paine was; a deist. Jefferson, after his presidency denounced the divinity of Jesus, miracles, the resurrection and all parts of scripture relating to miracles. He called the apostles a “band of dupes and imposters.” Jefferson even wrote his own ‘Christian’ bible, (called the Jefferson Bible)) to the exclusion of all miraculous events; leaving primarily nothing left of the bible but guidelines of morality.

John Adams. John Adams was raised a Congregationalist and became a Unitarian. Unitarianism is a sect branching off of Christianity (in modern times the division between Unitarianism and traditional Christian beliefs has become extremely wide). As a Unitarian he did not believe in the divinity of Jesus, or that God intervened in the affairs of man. So being, thou would also deny the authority of scripture (because scripture says otherwise). Adams spoke against Thomas Paine’s attacks on Christianity however, though he himself rejected orthodox Christianity.

In all groups of people there will be those whose beliefs differ from others; sometimes differing so much from the common consensus as to be totally contrary. Although the American colonies were at first predominately Christians, there were a few who were deists, theists and were atheists. So it was with the founding fathers. Not all were devoted Christians, even though the majority certainly were. Civil laws, correspondence and statements made by the collective group of the founding fathers of the United States were so overwhelmingly pro-Christian, and so overwhelmingly based on bible principles that those who spoke to the contrary were no more than a few dissenters who were not speaking the views of the populace. Often, those in today’s world point singularly to those few dissenters to validate their claims of America not being founded on Christian principles in an attempt to “re-write” history. Once again, the anti-Christian statements of America’s founding were made by a very small minority and those in that minority could not even, ‘by law,’ hold public office in many of the original states! ( I will get to that later in this article). Dismissing the rantings of anti-Christians and those that quote them, I was left with the quotes and statements of what remained. I must admit, these statements bothered me;

• No reference to God is to be found in the body or in the amendments
of the United States Constitution.

• No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States (Art vi, section 3 of the United States constitution.

• Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…Amendment 1, the United States constitution.

And THIS one, bothered me the most!;

• Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between the United States and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, 1796-1797; “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen” [muslims]… (signed by John Adams).

I am glad that my own commitment to Jesus and faith in God is not based on whether or not the United States, or any country for that matter, is Christian or even began as a Christian nation, though it might have changed afterwards. The foundation of my faith is upon the Lord Jesus Christ; a solid, immoveable rock, not given to change with the times, culture, other religions or the whims of man. Still, I was bothered by the above statements, and not wanting my own views of America’s history to be based on one-sided information, I wanted to know the whole story. I started by going back to the original charters of the early colonies, and to the first written constitutions of the newborn states.

I noticed as I read these documents of early America, that not only were the early settlers Christian, but I gained a better understanding of just how seriously they were concerning their commitment! I was awed and inspired by their words, devotion and actions moreso than by any modern day ministry. Within the texts of individual colonies and states I found that;

• In all of them the protestant religion was the only religion recognized to be held as true.
• In ten of those colonies/states you could not hold public office, elected or not, unless you were a Christian.
• In three of those colonies/states an oath of certain Christian beliefs had to sworn to in other to hold public office.
• In three of those colonies/states, where it is stated that “no religious test be given to hold public office” that it was followed by “other than Christian”.
• That in Massachusetts, the law required public financial support and maintenance of the Protestant religion (including the building of churches).
• North and South Carolina proclaimed in their documents that they were Christian states (thus making Christianity the law).

A Brief History of the Times

As protestants, through much persecution, broke away from Catholicism, they soon began to divide into sects, or denominations because of differing understanding of scripture. Those differences of understanding became part of their foundational doctrines. With each new revelation of scripture, each denomination revered their doctrine as a greater, or more complete truth than the other sects and tried to sway people to their particular understanding. Thus there became a form of rivalry and cause for heated discussion. The new colonies/states, not being far removed from the harsh dictates of Catholicism as the only religion in Europe, sought to ensure, by law, that one denomination of Protestantism would never become dominate over the other denominations. That Baptists, Presbyterian or Methodists (etc) would never become the only ‘state recognized’ religion over all others. All people, of any denomination, could hold public office, but they did have to be of the Christian religion to hold office. This would also ensure, since by law in some states that Christian churches must be built and maintained, that members of one denomination would not be forced by to support a church of a differing denomination. The only faith recognized by the early Americans was Christian; hence laws that were made as well as oaths of offices specified belief and faith in the foundational doctrines of Christianity. Reference to ‘other religions’ or sects were terms simply meaning; ‘denominations. That’s why many of the early documents would declare that ‘all religions would be honored’ would further stipulate ‘as long as they were Christian’.

I give to you now, the original charters and constitutions, or at least those parts that in any way pertain to religion and/or Christianity. I specify original because I want the reader to understand that these documents are the actual words of our founders; not half-truths, not portions of sentences taken out of context to mis-lead people, not someone’s paraphrased opinion by those who wish to distort and re-write America’s true history for their own evil purposes.

(Note: spelling, punctuation and capitalization as well as the English language itself were not standardized until the year 1828. All of the documents quoted were written prior to that time and are quoted as written. Most of these documents lack periods in their text, and that leads to page-long sentences and makes reading more difficult. In wanting to point out certain areas of these early American charters and constitutions, I did not want to print only those portions of text that prove the point I am making (that America began as a Christian nation) by taking portions of sentences as that could make it appear as if I might be taking things out of context in order to prove my point. So, since these documents lack sentences, I often printed the entire article or subject matter. To make it easier and more convenient for the reader though, I highlighted those portions of colony and state charters and constitutions that are significant to my point by putting those portions in bold print and/or italics… but I make available to readers the entire text. Thus, a person can avoid long and sometimes strenuous reading by skipping to those areas of bold print, or read the whole text, but the choice is up to reader).


The Colonies in order of length
The Constitution of Georgia (1777)
ART. VI. The representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county, who shall have resided at least twelve months in this State, and three months in the county where they shall be elected; except the freeholders of the counties of Glynn and Camden, who are in a state of alarm, and who shall have the liberty of choosing one member each, as specified in the articles of this constitution, in any other county, until they have residents sufficient to qualify them for more; and they shall be of the Protestent religion, and of the age of twenty-one years, and shall be possessed in their own right of two hundred and fifty acres of land, or some property to the amount of two hundred and fifty pounds.

Delaware
(1776)

(The State Constitution of Delaware established the Christian religion as the only authorized religion and ensured that any and all of elected or appointed officials be Christian by incorporating into their Constitution Article 22 that states;)

“Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office of place of trust… shall… also make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:

“I, ________________________, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and new Testament to be given by divine inspiration”.

(While this oath was mandatory, ensuring that Christianity would be professed by all officials, the state also demanded that any clergyman or preacher could not hold public office while at the same time engaging in pastoral functions. This was to ensure that one religious sect (denomination) was not granted any special favors or political advantage over other Christian religions).
The First Charter of Virginia; April 10, 1606
We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government: DO, by these our Letters Patents, graciously accept of, and agree to, their humble and well-intended Desires;
The Constitution of Virginia; June 29, 1776 (1)
Bill of Rights; June 12, 1776
SEC. 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.
Constitution of North Carolina : December 18, 1776 (1) (2)
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, &C.
XIX. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences.
XXXI. That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospels of any denomination, shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function.
XXXII. That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.
The North Carolina Constitution of 1868

ARTICLE VII
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Sec. 4. Welfare policy; board of public welfare.
Beneficent provision for the poor, the unfortunate, and the orphan is one of the first duties of a civilized and a Christian state. Therefore the General Assembly shall provide for and define the duties of a board of public welfare.
Pennsylvania
SECT. 10. A quorum of the house of representatives shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of members elected; and having met and chosen their speaker, shall each of them before they proceed to business take and subscribe, as well the oath or affirmation of fidelity and allegiance hereinafter directed, as the following oath or affirmation, viz:
I do swear (or affirm) that as a member of this assembly, I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote, or resolution, which stall appear to free injurious to the people; nor do or consent to any act or thing whatever, that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared in the constitution of this state; but will in all things conduct myself as a faithful honest representative and guardian of the people, according to the best of only judgment and abilities.
And each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz:
I do believe in one God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.
And no further or other religious test shall ever hereafter be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this State
New York

(In the “Laws of the Colony of New York,” which covered every facet of
Colonial life, under the subject of “Church” it proclaims that a person could not be admitted to public office unless he received ordination from a Protestant minister as well as other proclamations. As you can determine from reading from the “Laws of the Colony of New York” these people were very serious about their Christian beliefs.
New York).

“Whereas the publique Worship of God is much discredited for want of painful & able Ministers to Instruct the people in the true Religion and for want of Convenient places Capable to receive any Number or Assembly of people in a decent manner for Celebrating Gods Holy Ordinances These ensueing Lawes are to be observed in every parish

1. That in each Parish within this Government a church be built in the Convenient part thereof, Capable to receive and accommodate two Hundred Persons.
3. Every Overseer is to take the Oath of Allegiance at the time of his admittance into his office in the Presence of the Minister Overseers and Constable of the parish, besides the oath of his Office.
4. To prevent Scandalous and Ignorant pretenders to the Ministry form intruding themselves as Teachers; No Minister shall be Admitted to Offficiate, within the Government but such as shall produce Testimonials to the Governor, that he hath received Ordination either from some Protestant Bishop, or Minister within some part of his Majesties Dominions or the dominions of any foreign Prince of the Reformed Religion (Protestantism), upon which Testimony the Governor shall induce the said Minister into the parish that shall make presentation of him, as duely elected by the Major part of the Inhabitants householders.
5. That the Minister of every Parish shall Preach constantly every Sunday and shall also pray for the Kinge, Queene, Duke of Yorke, and the Royall family. And every person affronting or disturbing any Congregation on the Lords Day and on such publique days of fast and Thanksgiving as are appointed to be observed. After the presentments thereof by the Church-wardens to the Sessions and due Conviction thereof he shall be punish by fine or Imprisonment according to the merit and Nature of the offence, And every minister shall also Publiquely Administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper once every Year at the least in his Parish Church not denying the private benefit thereof to Persons that for want of health shall require the same in their houses, under the penalty of Loss of preferment unless the Minister be restrained in point of Conscience”.

The list goes on, but I think the point has been made. Also under the “Laws of the Colony of New York” under the section “Church Wardens” is another law I find interesting.

“That Church wardens shall twice ever year on the Second day of the Sessions, to be held in June; and on the Second day fo the Sessions, to be held in December, In open Sessions deliver a true presentment in writing of all such misdemeanors as by their knowledge have been Committed and not punished whilst they have been Churchwardens. Namely, Swearing, prophaness, Sabbath breaking Drunkenness, fornication, Adultery, and all such abominable Sinnes; The said Church wardens are also hereby impowered to cauyse any person upon whose report they ground their presentment to appear at the respective Sessions to which the presentments are made to give in their evidence concering the same, and the refusers shall be Lyable to be fined at the Sessions
Constitution of South Carolina - March 19, 1778 (1)
An Act for establishing the constitution of the State of South Carolina.
XXXVIII. That all persons and religious societies who acknowledge that there is one God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, and that God is publicly to be worshipped, shall be freely tolerated. The Christian Protestant religion shall be deemed, and is hereby constituted and declared to be, the established religion of this State. That all denominations of Christian Protestants in this State, demeaning themselves peaceably and faithfully, shall enjoy equal religious and civil privileges. To accomplish this desirable purpose without injury to the religious property of those societies of Christians which are by law already incorporated for the purpose of religious worship, and to put it fully into the power of every other society of Christian Protestants, either already formed or hereafter to be formed, to obtain the like incorporation, it is hereby constituted, appointed, and declared that the respective societies of the Church of England that are already formed in this State for the purpose of religious worship shall still continue incorporate and hold the religious property now in their possession. And that whenever fifteen or more male persons, not under twenty-one years of age, professing the Christian Protestant religion, and agreeing to unite themselves In a society for the purposes of religious worship, they shall, (on complying with the terms hereinafter mentioned,) be, and be constituted a church, and be esteemed and regarded in law as of the established religion of the State, and on a petition to the legislature shall be entitled to be incorporated and to enjoy equal privileges. That every society of Christians so formed shall give themselves a name or denomination by which they shall be called and known in law, and all that associate with them for the purposes of worship shall be esteemed as belonging to the society so called. But that previous to the establishment and incorporation of the respective societies of every denomination as aforesaid, and in order to entitle them thereto, each society so petitioning shall have agreed to and subscribed in a book the following five articles, without which no agreement fir union of men upon presence of religion shall entitle them to be incorporated and esteemed as a church of the established religion of this State:
1st. That there is one eternal God, and a future state of rewards and punishments.
2d. That God is publicly to be worshipped.
3d. That the Christian religion is the true religion
4th. That the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine inspiration, and are the rule of faith and practice.
And no further or other religious test shall ever hereafter be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this State
Maryland (1776)
XXXIII. That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice; unless, under colour of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others, in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any particular place of worship, or any particular ministry; yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal tax for the support of the Christian religion; leaving to each individual the power of appointing the payment over of the money, collected from him, to the support of any particular place of worship or minister, or for the benefit of the poor of his own denomination, or the poor in general of any particular county: but the churches, chapels, globes, and all other property now belonging to the church of England, ought to remain to the church of England forever. And all acts of Assembly, lately passed, for collecting monies for building or repairing particular churches or chapels of ease, shall continue in force, and be executed, unless the Legislature shall, by act, supersede or repeal the same: but no county court shall assess any quantity of tobacco, or sum of money, hereafter, on the application of any vestrymen or church-wardens; and every encumbent of the church of England, who hath remained in his parish, and performed his duty, shall be entitled to receive the provision and support established by the act, entitled "An act for the support of the clergy of the church of England, in this Province," till the November court of this present year to be held for the county in which his parish shall lie, or partly lie, or for such time as he hate remained in his parish, and performed his duty.
XXXIV. That every gift, sale, or devise of lands, to any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination-and every gift or sale of good-e, or chattels, to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, or to or for such support, use or benefit-and also every devise of goods or chattels to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order, or denomination, without the leave of the Legislature, shall be void; except always any sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land, not exceeding two acres, for a church, meeting, or other house of worship, and for a burying-ground, which shall be improved, enjoyed or used only for such purpose-or such sale, gift, lease, or devise, shall be void.
XXXV. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State, and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion.
Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations - July 15, 1663 (1)
CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas wee have been informed, by the humble petition of our trustie and well beloved subject, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamine Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Easton, William Boulston, John Porter, John Smith, Samuell Gorton, John Weeks, Roger Williams, Thomas Olnie, Gregorie Dexter, John Cogeshall, Joseph Clarke, Randall Holden, John Greene, John Roome, Samuell Wildbore, William Ffield, James Barker, Richard Tew, Thomas Harris, and William Dyre, and the rest of the purchasers and ffree inhabitants of our island, called Rhode-Island, and the rest of the colonie of Providence Plantations, in the Narragansett Bay, in New-England, in America, that they, pursueing, with peaceable and loyall minces, their sober, serious and religious intentions, of goalie edifieing themselves, and one another, in the holie Christian ffaith and worshipp as they were perswaded; together with the gaineing over and conversione of the poore ignorant Indian natives, in those partes of America, to the sincere professione and obedienc of the same ffaith and worship, did, not onlie by the consent and good encouragement of our royall progenitors, transport themselves out of this kingdome of England into America, but alsoe, since their arrivall there, after their first settlement amongst other our subjects in those parts, Nor the avoideing of discorde, and those manic evills which were likely to ensue upon some of those oure subjects not beinge able to beare, in these remote parties, theire different apprehensiones in religious concernements, and in pursueance of the afforesayd ends, did once againe leave theire desireable stationies and habitationes, and with excessive labour and travell, hazard and charge, did transplant themselves into the middest of the Indian natives, who, as wee are informed, are the most potent princes and people of all that country; where, by the good Providence of God, from whome the Plantationes have taken their name, upon theire labour and industrie, they have not onlie byn preserved to admiration, but have increased and prospered
And whereas, in theire humble addresse, they have ffreely declared, that it is much on their hearts (if they may be permitted), to hold forth a livlie experiment, that a most flourishing civill state may stand and best bee maintained, and that among our English subjects. with a full libertie in religious concernements; and that true pietye rightly grounded upon gospell principles, will give the best and greatest security to sovereignetye, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to true loyaltye: Now know bee, that wee beinge willinge to encourage the hopefull undertakeinge of oure sayd lovall and loveinge subjects, and to secure them in the free exercise and enjovment of all theire civill and religious rights, appertaining to them, as our loveing subjects; and to preserve unto them that libertye, in the true Christian ffaith and worshipp of God, which they have sought with soe much travaill, and with peaceable myndes, and lovall subjectione to our royall progenitors and ourselves, to enjoye; and because some of the people and inhabitants of the same colonie cannot, in theire private opinions, conforms to the publique exercise of religion.
New Jersey
(1776)

XVI. All persons living in the Province who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and Eternal God, and holds themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and quietly in a civil society, shall in no way be molested or prejudged for their religious perswasions and exercise in matters of faith and worship; nor shall they be compelled to frequent and maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever:

Yet it is also hereby provided, that no man shall be admitted a member of the great or common Council, or any other place of publick trust, who shall not profaith in Christ Jesus, and solemnly declare that he doth no ways hold himself obliged in conscience to endeavour alteration in the government, or seeks the turning out of any in it or their ruin or prejudice, either in person or estate, because they are in his opinion hereticks, or differ in their judgment from him: Nor by this article is it intended, that any under the notion of this liberty shall allow themselves to avow atheism, irreligiousness, or to practice cursing, swearing, drunkenness, prophaness, whoring, adultery, murdering or any kind of violence, or indulging themselves in stage plays, masks, revells or such like abuses; for restraining such and preserving of the people in deligence and in good order, the great Council is to make more particular laws, which are punctually to be put in execution.

Also from New Jersey from a later period, their 1776 Constitution
(Notice that in the text of these two articles the safeguard that a person could be of any religion and worship at any place of worship or have any faith, and long as it was Protestant. When the Christians of early America referred to ‘different religions’ they were referring to the various denominations of Christianity… but Christianity nevertheless).
The 1776 Constitution of New Jersey, articles 18 and 19 read:
XVIII. That no person shall ever, within this Colony, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner, agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor, under any presence whatever, be compelled to attend any place of worship, contrary to his own faith and judgment; nor shall any person, within this Colony, ever be obliged to pay tithes, taxes, or any other rates, for the purpose of building or repairing any other church or churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right, or has deliberately or voluntarily engaged himself to perform.
XIX. That there shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this Province, in preference to another; and that no Protestant inhabitant of this Colony shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right, merely on account of his religious principles; but that all persons, professing a belief in the faith of any Protestant sect. who shall demean themselves peaceably under the government, as hereby established, shall be capable of being elected into any office of profit or trust, or being a member of either branch of the Legislature, and shall fully and freely enjoy every privilege and immunity, enjoyed by others their fellow subjects.



New Hampshire

Agreement of the Settlers at Exeter in New Hampshire, 1639

Whereas it hath pleased the Lord to move the Heart of our dread Sovereigns Charles by the Grace of God King &c. to grant Licence and Libertye to sundry of his subjects to plant themselves in the Westerlle parts of America. We his loyal Subjects Brethern of the Church in Exeter situate and lying upon the River Pascataqua with other Inhabitants there, considering with ourselves the holy Will of God and o'er own Necessity that we should not live without wholesomne Lawes and Civil Government among us of which we are altogether destitute; do in the name of Christ and in the sight of God combine ourselves together to erect and set up among us such Government as shall be to our best discerning agreeable to the Will of God professing ourselves Subjects to our Sovereign Lord King Charles according to the Libertyes of our English Colony of Massachusetts, and binding of ourselves solemnly by the Grace and Help of Christ and in His Name and fear to submit ourselves to such Godly and Christian Lawes as are established in the realm of England to our best Knowledge, and to all other such Lawes which shall upon good grounds be made and enacted among us according to God that we may live quietly and peaceably together in all godliness and honesty. Mo. 8. D. 4. 1639 as attests our Hands.
[35 signatures follow.]

Constitution of New Hampshire
June 2, 1784
PART I. - THE BILL OF RIGHTS

ARTICLE I
All men are born equally free and independent; therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded in consent, and instituted for the general good.
II. All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights. among which are --the enjoying and defending life and liberty --acquiring, possessing and protecting property --and in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness.
III. When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order in insure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void.
IV. Among the natural rights, some are in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.
V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship GOD according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty or estate for worshipping GOD, in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession, sentiments or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or disturb others, in their religious worship.
VI. As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as the knowledge of these, is most likely to be propagated through a society by the institution of the public worship of the DEITY, and of public instruction in morality and religion; therefore, to promote those important purposes, the people of this state have a right to impower, and do hereby fully impower the legislature to authorize from time to time, the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies within this state, to make adequate provision at their own expence, for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality:
Provided notwithstanding, That the several towns, parishes, bodies-corporate, or religious societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their own public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance. And no portion of any one particular religious sect or denomination, shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the teacher or teachers of another persuasion, sect or denomination.
And every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves quietly, and as good subjects of the state, shall be equally under the protection of the law: and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another, shall ever be established by law.
Massachusetts and the Mayflower Compact

(The Pilgrims, were originally bound for northern Virginia but landed first at Plymouth Massachusetts in 1620 and settled there for some time. The Mayflower Compact served as a legal document until 1691 when it was replaced by documents of Massachusetts Bay, and ultimately by the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780).

The preamble to the Mayflower Compact reads:

“In the name of God, Amen.
We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith, and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the Fist Colony in the Northern Part of Virginia; do be these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politie, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of other ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, for time to time, as hall be thought most meet (suitable) and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, establishing its laws of authorization and governorship which followed the Mayflower Compact had similar guidelines and directives. Within this document are the statements;

“… for the greater Ease and Encouragement of Our Loveing Subjects Inhabiting our said Province or Territory of the Massachusetts Bay and of such as shall come to Inhabit there Wee doe by these presents for vs Our heires and Successors Grant Establish and Ordaine that for ever hereafter there shall be a liberty of Conscience allowed in the Worshipp of God to all Christians (Except Papists) Inhabiting or which shall Inhabit or be Resident within our said Province or Territory And Wee doe hereby Grant and Ordaine that the Gouernor or leivtent or Deputy Gouernor of our said Province or Territory for the time being or either of them or any two or more of the Councill or Assistants for the time being as shall be "hereunto appointed by the said Gouernor shall and may at all times and from time to time hereafter have full Power and Authority to Administer and give the Oathes appointed by the said Act of Parliament …”. Orders Laws Statutes and Ordinances Directions and Instructions either with penalties or without (soe as the same be not repugnant or contrary to the Lawes of this our Realme of England) as they shall Judge to be for the-good and welfare of our said Province or Territory And for the Gouernment and Ordering thereof and of the People Inhabiting or who shall Inhabit the same and for the necessary support and Defence of the Government thereof And wee doe for vs our Heires and Successors Giue and grant that the said Generall Court or Assembly shall have full power and Authority to name and settle annually all Civill Officers within the said Province such Officers Excepted the Election and Constitution of whome wee have by these presents reserved to vs Our Heires and Successors or to the Governor of our said Province for the time being and to Sett forth the severall Duties Powers and Lymitts of every such Officer to be appointed by the said Generall Court or Assembly and the formes of such Oathes not repugnant to the Lawes and Statutes of this, our Realme of England as shall be respectiuely Administered vnto them for the Execution of their severall Offices and places And alsoe to impose Fines mulcts Imprisonments and other Punishments And to impose and leavy proportionable and reasonable Assessments Rates and Taxes vpon the Estates and Persons of all and every the Proprietors and Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory to be Issued and disposed of by Warrant vnder the hand of the Governor of our said Province for the time being with the advice and Consent of the Councill for Our service in the necessary defence and support of our Government of our said Province or Territory and the Protection and Preservation of the Inhabitants there according to such Acts as are or shall be in force within our said Province and to dispose of matters and things whereby our Subjects inhabitants of our said Province may be Religiously peaceably and Civilly Governed Protected and Defended soe as their good life and orderly Conversation may win the Indians Natives of the Country to the knowledge and obedience of the onely true God and Saviour of Mankinde and the Christian Faith which his Royall Majestie our Royall Grandfather king Charles the first in his said Letters Patents declared was his Royall Intentions And the Adventurers free Possession(9) to be the Princepall end of the said Plantation”.

The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780
Art. II. It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession or sentiments, provided he doth not disturb the public peace or obstruct others in their religious worship.
Art. III. As the happiness of a people and the good order and preservation of civil government essentially depend upon piety, religion, and morality, and as these cannot be generally diffcused through a community but by the institution of the public worship of God and of the public instructions in piety, religion, and morality: Therefore, To promote their happiness and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies-politic or religious societies to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and morality in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily.

And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.

Art. II. The governor shall be chosen annually; and no person shall be eligible to this office, unless, at the time of his election, he shall have been an inhabitant of this commonwealth for seven years next preceding; and unless he shall, at the same time, be seized, in his own right, of a freehold, within the commonwealth, of the value of one thousand pounds; and unless he shall declare himself to be of the Christian religion.
CHAPTER VI.
Oaths and Subscriptions; Incompatibility of and Exclusion from Offices; Pecuniary Qualifications; Commissions; Writs; Confirmation of Laws; Habeas Corpus; The Enacting Style; Continuance of Officers; Provision for a Future Revisal of the Constitution, etc.
Article I. Any person chosen governor, lieutenant-governor, councillor, senator, or representative, and accepting the trust, shall, before he proceed to execute the duties of his place or office, make and subscribe the following declaration, viz:
"I, ____________________________., do declare that I believe the Christian religion, and have a firm persuasion of its truth; and that I am seized and possessed, in my own right, of the property required by the constitution, as one qualification for the office or place to which I am elected."
Connecticut
Fundamental Orders of 1639 of the Colony of New Haven, June 4, 1639 Fundamental Agreement, or Original Constitution
For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connectecotte and the lands thereunto adjoining; and well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of the people at all seasons as occasion shall require; do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one Public State or Commonwealth; and do for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess, as also, the discipline of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said Gospel is now practiced amongst us; as also in our civil affairs to be guided and governed according to such Laws, Rules, Orders and Decrees as shall be made, ordered, and decreed as followeth:
THE 4th day of the 4th month, called June, 1639, all the free planters assembled together in a general meeting, to consult about settling civil government, according to GOD, and the nomination of persons that might be found, by consent of all, fittest in all respects for the foundation work of a church, which was intended to be gathered in Quinipiack. After solemn invocation of the name of GOD, in prayer for the presence and help of his spirit and grace, in those weighty businesses, they were reminded of the business whereabout they met, (viz.) for the establishment of such civil order as might be most pleasing unto GOD, and for the choosing the fittest men for the foundation work of a church to be gathered. For the better enabling them to discern the mind of GOD, and to agree accordingly concerning the establishment of civil order, Mr. John Davenport propounded divers queries to them publicly, praying them to consider seriously in the presence and fear of GOD, the weight of the business they met about, and not to be rash or slight in giving their votes to things they understood not; but to digest fully and thoroughly what should be propounded to them, and without respect to men, as they should be satisfied and persuaded in their own minds, to give their answers in such sort as they would be willing should stand upon record for posterity.
This being earnestly pressed by Mr. Davenport, Mr. Robert Newman was intreated to write, in characters, and to read distinctly and audibly in the hearing of all the people, what was propounded and accorded on, that it might appear, that all consented to matters propounded, according to words written by him.
Query I. WHETHER the scriptures do hold forth a perfect rule for the direction and government of all men in all duties which they are to perform to GOD and men, as well in families and commonwealth, as in matters of the church ? This was assented unto by all, no man dissenting, as was expressed by holding up of hands. Afterwards it was read over to them, that they might see in what words their vote was expressed. They again expressed their consent by holding up their hands, no man dissenting.
Query II. WHEREAS there was a covenant solemnly made by the whole assembly of free planters of this plantation, the first day of extraordinary humiliation, which we had after we came together, that as in matters that concern the gathering and ordering of a church, so likewise in all public officers which concern civil order, as choice of magistrates and officers, making and repealing laws, dividing allotments of inheritance, and all things of like nature, we would all of us be ordered by those rules which the scripture holds forth to US; this covenant was called a plantation covenant, to distinguish it from a church covenant. which could not at that time be made a church not being then gathered, but was deferred till a church might be gathered, according to GOD. It was demanded whether all the free planters do hold themselves bound by that covenant, in all businesses of that nature which are expressed in the covenant, to submit themselves to be ordered by the rules held forth in the scripture t
THIS also was assented unto by all, and no man gainsayed it; and they did testify the same by holding up their hands, both when it was first propounded, and confirmed the same by holding up their hands when it was read unto them in public. John Clark being absent, when the covenant was made, doth now manifest his consent to it. Also Richard Beach, Andrew Law, Goodman Banister, Arthur Halbridge, John Potter, Robert Hill, John Brocket, and John Johnson, these persons, being not admitted planters when the covenant was made, do now express their consent to it.
Query III. THOSE who have desired to be received as free planters, and are settled in the plantation, with a purpose, resolution and desire, that they may be admitted into church fellowship, according to CHRIST, as soon as GOD shall fit them "hereunto, were desired to express it by holding up hands. According all did express this to be their desire and purpose by holding up their hands twice (viz.) at the proposal of it, and after when these written words were read unto them.
Query IV. All the free planters were called upon to express, whether they held themselves bound to establish such civil order as might best conduce to the securing of the purity and peace of the ordinance to themselves and their posterity according to GOD In answer hereunto they expressed by holding up their hands twice as before, that they held themselves bound to establish such civil order as might best conduce to the ends aforesaid.
THEN Mr. Davenport declared unto them, by the scripture, what kind of persons might best be trusted with matters of government; and by sundry arguments from scripture proved that such men as were described in Exod. xviii. 2, Dent. 1. 13, with Dent. xvii. A, and 1 C!or. vi. 1, 6, 7, ought to be intrusted by them, seeing they were free to cast themselves into that mould and form of commonwealth which appeared best for them in reference to the securing. the peace and peaceable improvement of all CHRIST his ordinances in the church according to GOD, whereunto they have bound themselves, as hath been acknowledged.
HAVING thus said he sat down praying the company freely to consider, whether they would have it voted at this time or not. After some space of silence, Mr. Theophilus Eaton answered it might be voted, and some others also spake to the same purpose, none at all opposing it. Then it was propounded to vote.
Query V. WHETHER free burgesses shall be chosen out of the church members, they that are in the foundation work of the church being actually free burgesses, and to choose to themselves out of the like estate of church fellowship, and the power of choosing magistrates and officers from among themselves, and the power of making and repealing laws, according to the word, and the dividing of inheritances, and deciding of differences that may arise, and all the businesses of like nature are to be transacted by those free burgesses. This was put to vote and agreed unto by lifting up of hands twice, as in the former it was done. Then one man stood up and expressed his dissenting from the rest in part; yet granting, 1. That magistrates should be men fearing GOD. 2. That the church is the company where, ordinarily, such men may be expected. 3. That they that choose them ought to be men fearing GOD; only at this he stuck, that free planters ought not to give this power out of their hands. Another stood up and answered, that nothing was done, but with their consent. The former answered, that all the free planters ought to resume this power into their own hands again, if things were not orderly carried. Mr. Theophilus Eaton answered, that in all places they choose committees in like manner. The companies in London choose the liveries by whom the public magistrates are chosen. In this the rest are not wronged, because they expect, in time, to be of the livery themselves, and to have the same power. Some others intreated the former to give his arguments and reasons whereupon he dissented. He refused to do it, and said, they might not rationally demand it, seeing he let the vote pass on freely and did not speak till after it was past, because he would not hinder what they agreed upon. Then Mr. Davenport, after a short relation of some former passages between them two about this question, prayed the company that nothing might be concluded by them on this weighty question, but what themselves were persuaded to be agreeing with the mind of GOD, and they had heard what had been said since the voting; he intreated them again to consider of it, and put it again to vote as before. Again all of them, by holding up their hands, did show their consent as before. And some of them confessed that, whereas they did waver before they came to the assembly, they were now fully convinced, that it is the mind of GOD. One of them said that in the morning before he came reading Deut. xvii. 15, he was convinced at home. Another said, that he came doubting to the assembly, but he blessed GOD, by what had been said, he was now fully satisfied, that the choice of burgesses out of church members and to intrust those with the power before spoken of is according to the mind of GOD revealed in the scriptures. All having spoken their apprehensions it was agreed upon, and Mr. Robert Newman was desired to write it as an order whereunto every one, that hereafter should be admitted here as planters, should submit, and testify the same by subscribing their names to the order: Namely, that church members only shall be free burgesses, and that they only shall choose magistrates and officers among themselves, to have power of transacting all the public civil affairs of this plantation; of making and repealing laws, dividing of inheritances, deciding of differences that may arise, and doing all things and businesses of like nature.
THIS being thus settled, as a fundamental agreement concerning civil government, Mr. Davenport proceeded to propound something to consideration about the gathering of a church' and to prevent the blemishing of the first beginnings of the church work, Mr. Davenport advised, that the names of such as were to be admitted might be publicly propounded, to the end that they who were most approved might be chosen; for the town being cast into several private meetings, wherein they that lived nearest together gave their accounts one to another of GOD'S gracious world upon them, and prayed together and conferred to their mutual edification, sundry of them had knowledge one of another, and in every meeting some one was more approved of all than any other; for this reason and to prevent scandals, the whole company was intreated to consider whom they found fittest to nominate for this work.
Query VI. WHETHER are you all willing and do agree in this, that twelve men be chosen, that their fitness for the foundation work may be tried; however there may be more named yet it may be in their power who are chosen to reduce them to twelve, and that it be in the power of those twelve to choose out of themselves seven, that shall be most approved of by the major part, to begin the church.
THIS was agreed upon by consent of all, as was expressed by holding up of hands, and that so many as should be thought fit for the foundation work of the church, shall be propounded by the plantation, and written down and pass without exception, unless they had given public scandal or offence. Yet so as in case of public scandal or offense, every one should have liberty to propound their exception, at that time, publicly against any man, that should be nominated, when all their names should be writ down. But if the offence were private, that mens names might be tendered, so many as were offended were intreated to deal with the offender privately, and if he gave not satisfaction to bring the matter to the twelve, that they might consider of it impartially and in the fear of GOD.
Charter of Connecticut – 1662
The following document was the “Charter of Connecticut” in 1662.
It reads in part’

Our said People Inhabitants there, may be so religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as their good Life and orderly Conversation may win and invite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledge and Obedience of the only true GOD, and He Saviour of Mankind, and the Christian Faith, which in Our Royal Intentions, and the adventurers free Possession, is the only and principal End of this Plantation; willing, commanding and requiring, and by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordaining and appointing, that all such Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, Instructions, Impositions and Directions as shall be so made by the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Assistants as aforesaid, and published in Writing under their Common Seal, shall carefully and duly be observed, kept, performed, and put in Execution, according to the true Intent and Meaning of The same, and these Our Letters Patents, or the Duplicate, or Exemplification thereof, shall be to all and every such Officers, Superiors and Inferiors from Time to Time, for the putting of the same Orders, Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Instructions, and Directions in due Execution, against Us, Our Heirs and Successors, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge.


Lastly, the New England confederation.

The colonies of New England also felt a need for a document declaring a union of like-mindedness, a unity of purpose that all were declared to share. It reads;

“We all came into these parts of America with one and the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace… The said United Colonies, for themselves and their posterities, do jointly and severally hereby enter into a firm and perpetual league of friendship and amity for offense and defense, mutual advice and succor upon all just occasions, both for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the Gospel and for their own mutual safety and welfare.”

This leaves two statements to be considered that those in favor of dismissing Christianity from our history that, as you have read, was rich and in abundance in the Christian faith.
One;

• No reference to God is to be found in the body or in the amendments
of the United States Constitution.

The answer to this statement is simply that the question of Godly government, and a nation established on God’s principles to form its laws and upon God’s word to establish it precepts of right and wrong, of morality and virtue, was already addressed by the individual states. The Constitution of the United States, the rightness and humaneness of its purpose and direction, was a result of those biblical principles already in place and understood by all. The Constitution did not qualify or authorize Christianity, it was the other way around; their Christian faith is what produced and authorized the Constitution!


And THIS one;

• Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between the United States and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, 1796-1797; “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen” [muslims]… (signed by John Adams).

I wondered how a nation so thoroughly and intensely Christian could produce such a statement that appeared to be a complete denial of Christianity! What I learned made everything clear, even scriptural and in accordance with New Testament teaching. I was amazed, but the answer is also quite simple.

The Answer

The ‘Bey’ was the head of the government of Tripoli, which is Muslim. The Muslims in that part of the world demanded extremely high fees (taxes of sorts) to bring shipping through that part of the world to protect other nations from being ‘pirated’ (by Muslim pirates, of course). It was extortion, but it was paid by other nations rather to engage in war with them. The Muslims, knowing of America’s Christian endeavor to bring Christianity to the world, feared another onslaught like the Great Crusades that had killed a great many Muslims in their recent past. Muslims assumed that Christianity was like Islam, and that we might try to convert them ‘at gunpoint’ as the religion of Islam tries to do. The result of the combination of these two factors in particular resulted in shipping in that area requiring warships escorting freight ships, even after paying their ‘tax’ and also that whenever the Muslims could they would capture a ship and it’s sailors and hold them for ransom. (Nothing has changed in hundreds of years in the religion of Islam! They still hold ‘infidels’ ransom whenever they can, and still to this day enact an ‘infidel tax’ upon those in their domain!). In an attempt to give calm and to proclaim that America had no intention of going to war with them as ‘Christians versus Islamists, the Treaty of Tripoli was written. Hence, the Treaty of Tripoli was the only treaty in America’s history with that particular sentence; “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen.”

It still doesn’t seem right, does it? To ever declare that. This statement though, is correct and true, and very cleverly written. And, very Christian. The cleverness of this sentence is in the wording. It specifically states “the government of the United States,” not the nation, not the people, but “the government.” Civil laws were placed in the hands of individual states, and localities within those states and were decidedly Christian by the general will of the people who also, by majority vote, enacted local and state requirements for public officials and state offices. These state laws and requirements were based upon Christian principles and were bible based… not on Hindu, Buddhist or
Muslim ideologies. Thus by civil law and the will of the people the United States was absolutely a Christian nation. But there is a difference between civil law, and laws at the federal level, which are mandated by the U.S. Constitution. If our government, by law of the Constitution or by amendment, specified Christianity as the only religion to be recognized then it would make any other religion against the law… and thereby be Christian by force! This would have been contrary to New Testament Principles of “whomsoever will, let him come.” Christianity must be entered into by the freewill of a person’s heart, not by demand. Not even God demands otherwise. Christianity begins at the turning of one’s heart toward love of God and obedience to Him out of a freewill, not demanded from government, as Muslim countries so require.