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On September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m., Reverend Jacob Duche prayed the following prayer to open the proceedings of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
Amen.
Reverend Duche was the Rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia where he led his then Church of England congregation to strike the prayers for the royal family from the prayer book. This act was, in itself, treason against England. In his first appearance before congress following the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, he once again delivered a moving prayer.
There is no doubt that Reverend Duche’s support of the Revolution was significant. The Church of England was the preferred choice for movers and shakers when it came to choosing a denomination. Thenty-eight of the 55 signers of the Declaration were members the Church of England. His support and involvement would have sent a positive message to other Church of England clergy and laypeople. John Adams wrote, "[Joseph Reed] says we never were so guilty of a more masterful stroke than in moving that Mr. Duche might read prayers. It has had a very good effect. He says the sentiments of people here are growing more and more favorable every day."
Somewhere along the way Reverend Duche had a change of heart. In October 1777, he wrote these words to General George Washington: “With that prudence and delicacy, therefore, of which I know you possessed, represent to Congress the indispensable necessity of rescinding the hasty and ill-advised declaration of independency. Recommend, and you have an undoubted right to recommend, an immediate cessation of hostilities.” He had already resigned his congressional chaplaincy in the fall of 1776, and declared his loyalty to England. Nonetheless, the Revolution was successful.
Then, as now, politicians have elicited the support of preachers at their own peril. This is true because they both have different agendas. The politician has the temporal welfare of a nation in mind while the preacher has the eternal welfare of souls in mind. Both are important. As Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” To be certain, what we do in the here and now, both as individuals and as nations, has a great bearing on our spiritual condition. The end does not always justify the means. We cannot worship at the altars of this world six days a week and expect that worshipping the God of the eternal on Sunday will rectify our transgression. Praying for the well being of nations and their citizens is a generous and loving exercise. Yet while we pray for day to day well being, we must never lose sight of the fact that our most urgent praying should be reserved for the condition of the souls of men, women, girls and boys.
Joy and Peace,
Ed
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