Oh...I said that "our nation was not founded on Christian values"? Where did I say that? I'm simply asking YOU what are those Christian values you claim our country was founded on. I'm sorry to hear they are so hard to simply list. Do you know why that might be?
I see. Was I wrong about your beliefs? Do you believe that our nation was founded on the Christian values of morality and virtue?
Ah....now we are getting somewhere....where is it indicated that morality ONLY comes from Christianity? Where is it indicated that virtue ONLY comes from Christianity? Sounds like these values can be found in any religion....and in the non-religious. What puts the "owned by Christianity" trademark on them?
It isn't, but were you aware of many Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Confucius, Taoist in this country back in the 1700's? You ever heard of or read the New England Primer? It was the second best-selling book in the American colonies. The Bible was number one. Five million copies existed in America. There there were only four million people in America in 1776. Check it out and then tell me which values this country was founded upon.
http://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/neprimer.html
The New England Primer, 1777 edition
The New England Primer - Wikipedia
America was founded on many values- amongst the most substantial were the values of Democracy from pagan Greece and Rome- and of course there were also contributions from the values of Judaism.
Really? This is a tiny excerpt of the New England Primer that was used in ALL schools for ALL American Children. Do I need to post the rest?
THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER
1777 edition
A Divine Song of Praise to GOD, for a Child,
by the Rev. Dr. Watts.
HOW glorious is our heavenly King,
Who reigns above tha Sky!
How shall a Child presume to sing
His dreadful Majesty!
How great his Power is none can tell,
Nor think how large his grace:
Nor men below, nor Saints that dwell,
On high before his Face.
Nor Angels that stand round the Lord,
Can search his secret will;
But they perform his heav'nly Word,
And sing his Praises still.
Then let me join this holy Train;
And my first Off'rings bring;
The eternal GOD will not disdain
To hear an Infant sing.
My Heart resolves, my Tongue obeys,
And Angels shall rejoice,
To hear their mighty Maker's Praise,
Sound from a feeble Voice.
The young INFANT'S or CHILD'S morning Prayer.
From Dr. WATTS.
ALMIGHTY God the Maker of every thing in Heaven and Earth; the Darkness goes away, and the Day light comes at thy Command. Thou art good and doest good continually.
I thank thee that thou has taken such Care of me this Night, and that I am alive and well this Morning.
Save me, O God, from Evil, all this Day long, and let me love and serve thee forever, for the Sake of Jesus Christ thy Son. AMEN.
The INFANT'S or young CHILD'S Evening Prayer.
From Dr. WATTS.
O LORD God who knowest all Things, thou seest me by Night as well as by Day.
I pray thee for Christ's Sake, forgive me whatsoever I have done amiss this Day, and keep me all this Night, while I am asleep.
I desire to lie down under thy Care, and to abide forever under thy Blessing, for thou art a God of all Power and everlasting Mercy. AMEN.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m
n o p q r s t u v
w x y z &.
Vowels.
a e i o u y.
Consonants.
b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x z
Double Letters.
ct ff fi fl ffi ffl sh si ssi sl ss st
Italick Letters.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh
Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq
Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
Italick Double Letters.
ct ff fi ffi fl ffl sh si ss ssi sl st
Great Letters.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U W X Y Z.
Ab eb ib ob ub
ac ec ic oc uc
ad ed id od ud
af ef if of uf
ag eg ig og ug
aj ej ij oj uj
ak ek ik ok uk
al el il ol ul
am em im om um
an en in on un
ap ep ip op up
ar er ir or ur
as es is os us
at et it ot ut
av ev iv ov uv
ax ex ix ox ux
az ez iz oz uz
Easy Syllables, etc.
Ba be bi bo bu ca ce ci co cu da de di do du fa fe fi fo fu ga ge gi go gu ha he hi ho hu ja je ji jo ju ka ke ki ko ku la le li lo lu ma me mi mo mu na ne ni no nu pa pe pi po pu ra re ri ro ru ta te ti to tu va ve vi vo vu wa we wi wo wy ya ye yi yo yu za ze zi zo zu
Words of one Syllable.
Age all ape are Babe beef best bold Cat cake crown cup Deaf
dead dry dull Eat ear eggs eyes Face feet fish foul Gate good grass great Hand hat head heart Ice ink isle jobb Kick kind kneel know Lamb lame land long Made mole moon mouth Name night noise noon Oak once one ounce Pain pair pence pound Quart queen quick quilt Rain raise rose run Saint sage salt said Take talk time throat Vain vice vile view Way wait waste would
Words of two Syllables.
Ab-sent ab-hor a-pron au-thor Ba-bel be-came be-guile bold-ly Ca-pon cel-lar con-stant cup-board Dai-ly de-pend di-vers du-ty Ea-gle ea-ger en-close e-ven Fa-ther fa-mous fe-male fu-ture Ga-ther gar-den gra-vy glo-ry
Hei-nous hate-ful hu-mane hus-band In-fant in-deed in-cence i-sland Ja-cob jeal-ous jus-tice ju-lep La-bour la-den la-dy la-zy Ma-ny ma-ry mo-tive mu-sick
Words of three Syllables.
A-bu-sing a-mend-ing ar-gu-ment Bar-ba-rous be-ne-fit beg-gar-ly Cal-cu-late can-dle-stick con-foun-ded Dam-ni-fy dif-fi-cult drow-si-ness Ea-ger-ly em-ploy-ing evi-dence Fa-cul-ty fa-mi-ly fu-ne-ral Gar-de-ner glo-ri-ous gra-ti-tude Hap-pi-ness har-mo-ny ho-li-ness
Words of four Syllables.
A-bi-li-ty ac-com-pa-ny af-fec-ti-on Be-ne-fi-ted be-a-ti-tude be-ne-vo-lent Ca-la-mi-ty ca-pa-ci-ty ce-re-mo-ny De-li-ca-cy di-li-gent-ly du-ti-ful-ly E-dy-fy-ing e-ver-last-ing e-vi-dent-ly Fe-bru-a-ry fi-de-li-ty for-mi-da-bly Ge-ne-ral-ly glo-ri-fy-ing gra-ci-ous-ly
Words of five Syllables.A-bo-mi-na-ble ad-mi-ra-ti-on Be-ne-dic-ti-on be-ne-fi-ci-al Ce-le-bra-ti-on con-so-la-ti-on De-cla-ra-ti-on de-di-ca-ti-on E-du-ca-ti-on ex-hor-ta-ti-on For-ni-ca-ti-on fer-men-ta-ti-on Ge-ne-ra-ti-on ge-ne-ro-si-ty
Words of six Syllables.
A-bo-mi-na-ti-on Gra-ti-fi-ca-ti-on Be-ne-fi-ci-al-ly Hu-mi-li-a-ti-on Con-ti-nu-a-ti-on I-ma-gi-na-ti-on De-ter-mi-na-ti-on Mor-ti-fi-ca-ti-on E-di-fi-ca-ti-on Pu-ri-fi-ca-ti-on Fa-mi-li-a-ri-ty Qua-li-fi-ca-ti-on
A Lesson for Children.
Pray to God. Call no ill names. Love God. Use no ill words. Fear God. Tell no lies. Serve God. Hate Lies. Take not God's Speak the Truth. Name in vain. Spend your Time well. Do not Swear. Love your School. Do not Steal. Mind your Book. Cheat not in your play. Strive to learn. Play not with bad boys. Be not a Dunce.
A In ADAM'S Fall
We sinned all.
B Heaven to find;
The Bible Mind.
C Christ crucify'd
For sinners dy'd.
D The Deluge drown'd
The Earth around.
E ELIJAH hid
By Ravens fed.
F The judgment made
FELIX afraid.
G As runs the Glass,
Our Life doth pass.
H My Book and Heart
Must never part.
J JOB feels the Rod,--
Yet blesses GOD.
K Proud Korah's troop
Was swallowed up
L LOT fled to Zoar,
Saw fiery Shower
On Sodom pour.
M MOSES was he
Who Israel's Host
Led thro' the Sea
N NOAH did view
The old world & new.
O Young OBADIAS,
DAVID, JOSIAS,
All were pious.
P PETER deny'd
His Lord and cry'd.
Q Queen ESTHER sues
And saves the Jews.
R Young pious RUTH,
Left all for Truth.
S Young SAM'L dear,
The Lord did fear.
T Young TIMOTHY
Learnt sin to fly.
V VASHTI for Pride
Was set aside.
W Whales in the Sea,
GOD's Voice obey.
X XERXES did die,
And so must I.
Y While youth do chear
Death may be near.
Z ZACCHEUS he
Did climb the Tree
Our Lord to see.
Who was the first man ? Adam.
Who was the first woman ? Eve.
Who was the first Murderer ? Cain.
Who was the first Martyr ? Abel.
Who was the first Translated ? Enoch.
Who was the oldest Man ? Methuselah.
Who built the Ark ? Noah.
Who was the Patientest Man ? Job.
Who was the Meekest Man ? Moses.
Who led Israel into Canaan ? Joshua.
Who was the strongest Man ? Sampson.
Who killed Goliah ? David.
Who was the wisest Man ? Soloman.
Who was in the Whale's Belly? Jonah.
Who saves lost Men ? Jesus Christ.
Who is Jesus Christ ? The Son of God.
Who was the Mother of Christ ? Mary.
Who betrayed his Master ? Judas.
Who denied his Master ? Peter.
Who was the first Christian Martyr? Stephen.
Who was chief Apostle of the Gentiles ? Saul.
The Infant's Grace before and after Meat.
BLESS me, O Lord, and let my food strengthen me to serve thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. AMEN.
I Desire to thank God who gives me food to eat every day of my life. AMEN.
What's right and good now shew me Lord, and lead me by they grace and word. Thus shall I be a child of God, and love and fear they hand and rod.
An Alphabet of Lessons for Youth.
A Wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
BEtter is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure & trouble therewith.
COme unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest.
DO not the abominable thing which I hate saith the Lord.
EXcept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
FOolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come.
HOLINESS becomes GOD's house for ever.
IT is good for me to draw near unto GOD.
KEEP thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth them out of them all.
NOW is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
OUT of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
PRAY to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly.
QUIT you like men, be strong, stand fast in the faith.
REMEMBER thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
SEest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him.
TRUST in God at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him.
UPON the wicked, God shall rain an horrible tempest.
WO to the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
EXHORT one another daily while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened thro' the deceitfulness of sin.
YOUNG men ye have overcome the wicked one.
ZEal hath consumed me, because thy enemies have forgotten the word of God.
The LORD's Prayer.
OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. AMEN.
The CREED.
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father,
Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlafting. AMEN.
Dr. WATTS'S Cradle Hymn.
HUSH my dear, lie still and slumber,
holy angels guard thy bed,
Heavenly blessings without number,
gently falling on thy head.
Sleep my babe, thy food and raiment
house and home thy friends provide,
All without thy care or payment,
all thy wants are well supply'd.
How much better thou'rt attended,
than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he descended,
and became a child like thee.
Soft and easy is thy cradle,
coarse and hard thy Saviour lay,
When his birth-place was a stable,
and his softest bed was hay.
Blessed Babe ! what glorious features
spotless fair, divinely bright! !
Must he dwell with brutal creatures,
how could angels bear the sight !
Was there nothing but a manger,
cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly stranger;
did they thus affront their Lord.
Soft my child I did not chide thee,
tho' my song may sound too hard;
'Tis thy mother sits beside thee,
and her arms shall be thy guard.
Yet to read the shameful story,
how the Jews abus'd their King,
How they serv'd the Lord of glory,
makes me angry while, I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round him,
telling wonders from the sky;
There they sought him, there they found him,
with his Virgin Mother by.
See the lovely Babe a dreaming;
lovely Infant how he smil'd !
When he wept, the Mother's blessing
sooth'd and hush'd the holy child.
Lo ! he slumbers in his manger,
where the horned oxen fed;
Peace my darling here's no danger
here's no Ox a near thy bed.
'Twas to save thee, child from dying,
save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
that thy blest Redeemer came.
May'st thou live to know and fear him,
trust and love him all thy days !
Then go dwell for ever near him,
see his face and sing his praise.
I could give thee thousand kisses,
hoping what I most desire:
Not a mother's fondest wishes,
can to greater joys aspire.
VERSES for Children.
THOUGH I am young a little one,
If I can Speak and go alone,
Then I must learn to know the Lord,
And learn to read his holy word.
'Tis time to seek to God and pray
For what I want for every day:
I have a precious soul to save,
And I a mortal body have,
Tho' I am young yet I may die,
And hasten to eternity:
There is a dreadful fiery hell,
Where wicked ones must always dwell:
There is a heaven full of Joy,
Where godly ones must always stay:
To one of these my soul must fly,
As in a moment when I die:
When God that made me, calls me home,
I must not stay I must be gone.
He gave me life, and gives me breath,
And he can save my soul from death,
By JESUS CHRIST my only Lord,
According to his holy word.
He clothes my back and makes me warm:
He saves my flesh and bones from harm.
He gives me bread and milk and meat
And all I have that's good to eat.
When I am sick, he if he please,
Can make me well and give me ease:
He gives me sleep and quiet rest,
Whereby my body is refresh'd
The Lord is good and kind to me,
And very thankful I must be:
I must obey and love and fear him
, By faith in Christ I must draw near him.
I must not sin as others do,
Lest I lie down in sorrow too:
For God is angry every day,
With wicked ones who go astray,
All sinful words I must restrain:
I must not take God's name in vain.
I must not work, I must not play,
Upon God's holy sabbath day.
And if my parents speak the word,
I must obey them in the Lord.
Nor steal, nor lie, nor spend my days,
In idle tales and foolish plays,
I must obey my Lord's commands,
Do something with my little hands:
Remember my creator now,
In youth while time will it allow.
Young SAMUEL that little child,
He serv'd the Lord, liv'd undefil'd;
Him in his service God employ'd,
While ELI's wicked children dy'd:
When wicked children mocking said,
To a good man, Go up bald head,
God was displeas'd with them and sent
Two bears which them in pieces rent,
I must not like these children vile,
Displease my God, myself defile.
Like young ABIJAH, I must see,
That good things may be found in me,
Young King JOSIAH, that blessed youth,
He sought the Lord and lov'd the truth;
He like a King did act his part,
And follow'd God with all his heart.
The little children they did sing,
Hosannahs to their heavenly King.
That blessed child young TIMOTHY,
Did learn God's word most heedfully.
It seem'd to be his recreation,
Which made him wise unto salvation:
By faith in Christ which he had gain'd
With prayers and tears that faith unfeign'd
These good examples were for me;
Like these good children I must be.
Give me true faith in Christ my Lord,
Obedience to his holy word,
No word is in the world like thine,
There's none so pure, sweet and divine.
From thence let me thy will behold,
And love thy word above fine gold.
Make my heart in thy statutes sound,
And make my faith and love abound.
Lord circumcise my heart to love thee:
And nothing in this world above thee:
Let me behold thy pleased face,
And make my soul to grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of my Lord
And Saviour Christ, and of his word.
Another.
AWAKE, arise, behold thou hast,
Thy life a leaf, thy breath a blast;
At night lay down prepar'd to have
Thy sleep, thy death, thy bed, thy grave.
LORD if thou lengthen out my days,
Then let my heart so fixed be,
That I may lengthen out thy praise,
And never turn aside from thee.
So in my end I shall rejoice,
In thy salvation joyful be;
My soul shall say with loud glad voice,
JEHOVAH who is like to thee ?
Who taketh the lambs into thy arms,
And gently leadeth those with young,
Who saveth children from all harms,
Lord, I will praise thee with my song.
And when my days on earth shall end,
And I go hence and be here no more,
Give me eternity to spend,
My GOD to praise forever more.
Another.
Good children must,
Fear God all day, Love Christ alway,
Parents obey, In secret pray,
No false thing say, Mind little play,
By no sin stray, Make no delay,
In doing good.
Another.
In the burying place may see,
Graves shorter there than I,
From death's arrest no age is free,
Young children too must die.
My God may such an awful sight,
Awakening be to me !
Oh ! that by early grace I might
For death prepared be.
Another.
Now I lay me down to take my sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Another.
First in the morning when thou dost awake,
To God for his grace thy petition make,
Some heavenly petition use daily to say,
That the God of heaven may bless thee alway.
Duty to God and our neighbour.
LOVE God with all your soul & strength,
With all your heart and mind;
And love your neighbour as yourself,
Be faithful, just and kind.
Deal with another as you'd have
Another deal with you:
What you're unwilling to receive,
Be sure you never do.
Our Saviour's Golden Rule.
BE you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you:
And neither do nor say to men,
Whate'er you would not take again.
The Sum of the ten Commandments.
WITH all thy soul love God above,
And as thyself thy neighbour love.
Advice to Youth. Eccle. xii.
Now in the heat of youthful blood,
Remember your Creator God;
Behold the months come hast'ning on,
When you sfhall say, My joys are gone.
Behold the aged sinner goes
Laden with guilt and heavy woes,
Down to the regions of the dead,
With endless curses on his head.
The dust returns to dust again,
The soul in agonies of pain,
Ascends to God not there to dwell,
But hears her doom and sinks to hell.
Eternal King I fear thy name,
Teach me to know how frail I am,
And when my soul must hence remove,
Give me a mansion in thy love.
