"It is vain, sir to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace!--but there is no peace the war is actually begun! the next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me: Give me liberty, or give me death!" --Patrick Henry
Where is this back bone, this courage, this faith in God today? Where are the men? Are there none left? Who loves liberty? Who loves their freedom? Then open your eyes and open your ears!
You may think of me as one who "indulges in illusions of hope", but no. No, I see that painful and ugly potential, but in our case today, unlike in the 1700's, it cannot yet be called a "truth", not, at least, until November is past. Therefore, do not insist upon obscure candidates when they are not offered as an option! You have an opportunity provided for you through Almighty God's ever wise providence to gain with His aid, your temporal salvation from potential tyranny! To hold fast to your freedoms without violence. This time was already past for our forefathers, but not yet so with us, be aware of the storm that may come our way, and be prepared for it, but pray God that it does not burst upon us, do not hasten on pending destruction by ignoring providential doors.
You can trust God, please do, please trust Him with all of your heart! But do not turn away your eyes from the door which He has left open to you as of yet. Why do you look instead to the door which is still shut (pray God may it stay that way!), to the door that will only open (oh what terror and horror!) if the one now standing a-jar be shut, slammed, and with it peace shattered.
It is true, verry true, that we must trust God. Of course! But do you not remember that God uses means? God's eternal providence governs everything, and within His providence, and by His providence, God uses means. Did not the Almighty by the means of a harlot protect His men, He, who could have used any other means whatsoever? Yes, he did. No, she was by no means a saintly woman. She was not whom YOU would have chosen to protect your sons is she? She was not who I would have chosen to protect my sons is she? But she was who God chose. God does not always, nor can I say most of the time, use perfect and "noble characters" to fulfill His plans. Think of Pharaoh! And no man is perfect, even if he is one of God's children. Do not even the children of God disagree among themselves, and like or dislike each other?
God uses means, and many times those means are people, sometimes He uses His children and sometimes He uses heathens and pagans to fulfill His will. But He does use means, whether we approve of them or not.
As children of God, we are free to, yea, called upon to act according to His will. And if we see a need that wants fulfilling and providentially a way is open to fulfill it, then it is our duty to drive ahead! And if we are mistaken, then by and by God will show us that. But it is better to try, and be told later that we are driving off to a dead end, then to go resignedly sit at a possible dead end, when we see an open door, and really should go try it, and see if we can be helpful to His cause, to the furtherance of His will, rather then just waiting for the worst to come, and only seeking orders then. Why not seek orders now, when, though God has not given any audible command, the common sense mind realizes that He has provided work to be done, and by the direction of His book, we His servants should be busy about it until we should be instructed differently. Who knows? Maybe if you busied yourself about a way which looks as though God may use it for the good of His children, even if along the way he uses the type of people you wouldn't choose, maybe in so doing you would be found more active in the furthering of God's will then simply sitting by with a rifle in your lap. Be prepared for the worst, yes! But do not start there!
And what if God does use the means which you were not keen on and stayed as far away from as you could? What then? Who lent a hand in the furthering of God's will? Providentially some, but where were you?
I do not claim that I am being prophetical, I do not claim that I am perfect or the wisest soul in the world, but I do claim the love of Christ, the mercy of God, a holy calling of dominion and a command to act upon my belief. I do claim providence as a divine instrument of God, and know that my every thought and action flow from that pen onto the page of history. What will it say when at last it is done and my breath is gone? Only God knows. It will have much sin and failing in it, that I know, but may it ever be a path lighted with God's blessed lamps of liberty and peace!
Do not call me a coward and tell me that I do not trust my God enough; I only believe the illumination of Scripture which God has convicted upon my conscience.
I know that whatever in the world happens, whether God will part the Red Sea's that arise in front of me, or whether I must plunge into an un-parted sea and drown, no matter which, it is His will, for His glory, and my good. I am at peace with that, my God is good. Praise the LORD, whether walking through a dry sea, or milling about in its painfully icy waters, praise the LORD! Amen.