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A U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES TO THE NATION’S HIGHEST COURT

If age is a competent judge, the current U. S. President may have the opportunity to appoint as many as 3-4 judges to the nation’s highest court during his term[s] of office. What measuring standard should the President use in appraising potential candidates for this court which determines our nation’s direction in numerous areas?

This writer suggests that the U. S. President consider the following Supreme Court Justice who honorably served in that court during the 1850’s as his MODEL for all future appointees.

Justice McLean

A U. S. Supreme Court Justice Who Believed the Bible and Who Spoke Publicly About Its Powerful Impact on American Society

Judge John McLean 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, McLean 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.’”

“No one can estimate or describe the salutary influence of the Bible. What would the world be without it? Compare the dark places of the earth, where the light of the gospel has not penetrated with those where it has been proclaimed and embraced in all its purity.”

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, and l852; published in The National Magazine, Mar. 1854, p. 280.

Ed. Note: If the U. S. President selects individuals like Justice M’Lean for this office, the United States of America will be the spiritual, moral and practical beneficiary of such appointments. The writer believes the following Scripture verses have great bearing upon the future of the U.S.A.

Prov. 29:2 “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

Psalms ll:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Ps. 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

It is the writer’s hope that the U. S. president will seriously consider, ponder and follow the inerrant Scriptures when making decisions that affect our nation’s current and future destiny!