THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS UNIQUE
“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Constitution for the United States of America stands alone as the finest governing document in all of history
(That declaration is at variance with 5 or 6 of the 9 justices of the current United States Supreme Court)
A reader of today’s popular history knows very little about the Constitution for the United States of America, the debate that created it or the debaters who started and completed the job. These men were giants of that—or any, time—in character, faith and the readiness to lead a sovereign people, under God, establishing a limited Federal government answerable to the people. Two important resources are available:
- A two volume Debate on the Constitution written by Bernard Bailyn in 1993.
- The magnificent work, published in 1864 by Benjamin F. Morris, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.
Morris’ 1060 page authoritative tome ranges from, “The Hand of God in the Settlement of the American Continent” to the concluding “The Christian Element in the Civil War of the United States.” Our focus is chapter 12, “The Federal Constitution a Christian Instrument.” Marvel at these selections from the opening paragraphs:
“On the voluntary association of men in sufficient numbers to form a political community, the first step to be taken for their own security and happiness is to agree on the terms on which they are to be united and to act. They form a Constitution, or plan of government, suited to their character, their exigencies, and their future prospects. They agree that it shall be the supreme rule of obligation among them. This is the pure and genuine source of a Constitution in the Republican form.”
“The history of man does not present a more illustrious monument of human invention, sound political principles, and judicious combinations, than the Constitution of the United States. It is deemed to approach as near to perfection as any that have ever been formed.”
Selected headings from “The Federal Constitution a Christian Instrument”
Convention Called p 295
Character of its Members p 296
The Constitution a Christian State Paper p 297
Franklin’s Christian address to the Convention p 298
Harmony of the Constitution with the Principles
and Institutes of Christianity p 312
Picture of Prosperity Under the Constitution p 319
The Virtue of the People to Preserve the Constitution P 319
“The people who ordained such a noble constitution of government, and for whom it was made, are under the highest and most solemn obligations to preserve it for themselves, their children and future generations.
“This constitution of government,” says Justice Story, “must parish, if there be not that vital spirit in the people which alone can nourish, sustain and direct all its movements. It is in vain that statesmen shall form plans of government in which the beauty and harmony of a republic shall be embodied in visible order, shall be built upon solid substructions and adorned by every useful ornament, if the inhabitants suffer the silent power of time to dilapidate its walls or crumble its masonry supporters into dust, if the assaults from without are never resisted and the rottenness and mining from within are never guarded against. Who can preserve the rights and liberties of a people when they shall be abandoned by themselves? Who shall keep watch in the temple when the watchmen sleep at their post? Who shall call upon the people to redeem their possessions and revive the republic, when their own hands have deliberately and corruptly surrendered them to the oppressor and have built the prisons or dug the graves of their own friends? This dark picture, it is to be hoped, will never be applicable to the republic of America. And yet it affords a warning, which, like all the lessons of past experience, we are not permitted to disregard. America, free, happy and enlightened as she is, must the preservation of her rights and liberties upon the virtue, independence, justice and sagacity of the people. If either fail, the republic is gone.” (Selections pp 319-320)
The parts of the Constitution:
Preamble
Article I The Legislative Branch
Article II The Executive Branch
Article III The Judicial Branch
Article IV The States
Article V Amendment
Article VI Debt, Supremacy, Oaths
Article VII Ratification
Signatories
Amendments
Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution:
Presidential oath of office—
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. (So help me God.)
Supreme Court oath of office—
“I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as _________ under the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Congressional oath of office—
I _____n______ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The Patriot's Trumpet 