Archives |
|
|
|
A
U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO BELIEVED THE BIBLE
AND WHO SPOKE PUBLICLY ABOUT ITS POWERFUL IMPACT ON AMERICAN SOCIETY |
|
Judge
M’Lean was a justice of the U. S. Supreme Court in the 1850’s,
during an era in American history when the Bible was honored and revered
in our nation’s judicial system. A stark contrast to most of the
nation’s high court justices today, M’Lean was not only a
genuine American statesman, he was a firm unapologetic advocate of the
Sacred Scriptures. In a letter dated, Nov. 4, 1852, he penned the following
comments about the Bible: |
|
A
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPREAD OF INFIDELITY
AND UNBELIEF IN THE SCRIPTURES |
|
“I
am requested to say something as to the wholesome influence of the Bible
on our social and civil life. I agree with the sentiment expressed that
a ‘widespread, open infidelity, if uncorrected, must ere long
put in peril all our free institutions’. |
|
A
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO BELIEVED IN A LITERAL HEAVEN
AND A LITERAL HELL |
| “Life and immortality are brought to light by the Scriptures. Aside from revelation, darkness rests upon this world, and upon the future. There is no ray of light to shine upon our path way; there is no star of hope. We begin our speculations as to our destiny in conjecture and they end in uncertainty. We know not that there is a God, a heaven or a hell or any day of general account when the wicked and the righteous shall be judged.” [A Supreme Court Justice who believed in a literal hell? Yes!] |
|
A
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO BELIEVED IN REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD
|
| “The
Bible has shed a glorious light upon our world. It shows us that in a coming
day, we must answer for the deeds done in the body. It has opened up to
us a new and living way, so plainly marked that no one can mistake it. The
price paid for our redemption shows the value of our immortal souls.” |
|
THE
BIBLE ALONE PRESENTS PURE MORALS
AND CORRECT DOMESTIC SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS |
|
“The
Bible has given us a sublime and pure morality to which the world was
a stranger. Before this, there was no fixed standard of morals. Certain
rules were observed among some nations which, to some extent, restrained
the selfishness of human nature; but they rested upon imaginary foundations,
and they tolerated acts inconsistent with a pure morality. Self destruction
was not only an admitted principle in that code, but it received public
commendation. And there were other acts allowed which, if not equally
false and destructive, were repugnant to the advancement of the social
condition.
No system out of the Bible recognizes an omniscient power which scrutinizes the actions of men, and looking behind the act, takes cognizance of the motive. This was a new principle to the world; and it is the one by which we shall be judged. The laws which belong to the social relation are found in the Bible. The duties of husband and wife, parent and child, and all other civilization, are prescribed in the Scriptures. We are commanded to love our neighbor, and in all things ‘to do unto others as we would do unto us.’ If these roles were faithfully observed by individuals and communities, the highest degree of earthly happiness would be attained.” |
|
THE
SCRIPTURE IS THE FOUNDATION STONE OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY
|
|
“For
our unparalleled advance in civilization and physical prosperity, our
country is mainly indebted to the Bible. Our free institutions are the
fruits of religious persecution. With the Bible in their hearts, the Pilgrims
sought a resting-place on this continent. And in the process of time,
under the same principles, and motives, they resolved to be free and independent.
Having that wisdom which comes of experience, they formed a government
to secure and to perpetuate the great principle of civil and religious
freedom.”
|
|
THE
NECESSITY OF RETAINING THE SCRIPTURE AS THE MORAL UNDERPINING OF OUR NATION’S
GOVERNMENT.
|
|
“How
is this government to be transmitted in the purity and vigor to those
who shall come after us? This can only be done by use of the same means
through which it was established. We must not be forgetful of the God
of our fathers. We must respect and obey His laws. The morality
of the Bible must continue to be the basis of our government.
There is no other foundation for free institutions. I
say this emphatically, and from the deepest conviction of the truth.
This morality is an element of which the free governments of the old world had no knowledge. It [The holy Scripture] is the ground and the only ground on which my hope of this government rests. And I tremble when I see a departure from this highway of liberty. Recently, as our government as been established, there are already departures from this vital principle…” Excerpt of letter by John M’Lean, Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, letter, Nov. 4, l852; published in The National Magazine, Mar. 1854, p. 280. |
|
|
| Feburary - March 2004 The Fundamentalist Digest; Permission granted for reprint, so long as proper credit is given. |
|
|
|
|