Chief Justice John Jay
The very first Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Jay. He served both continental congress's, penned part of the Federalist Papers, was one of the three ambassadors to broker the peace treaty with England, was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, was an ambassador to Spain, and brokered the Jay Treaty which kept America out of the conflict between France and England. He was president of both the Westchester Bible Society and the American Bible Society. And he was appointed by George Washington as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
On America's fiftieth birthday, John Jay wrote that it was his "earnest hope that the peace, happiness, and prosperity enjoyed by our beloved country may induce those who direct her national counsels to recommend a general and public return of praise to Him from whose goodness these blessings descend."
Who is this He our Chief Justice was referring to? Most certainly not George Washington...
"Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His merciful and unmerited blessings and especially for our redemption and salvation by his beloved Son."
Again, if there is still any confusion on what he is speaking about,
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve."
Chief Justice John Jay was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. He did not see a contradiction of his office with his faith, nor should anyone have such. In fact, he had no qualms with intermingling them.
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their ruler."
Not that it excluded all other religions, but that it was our innate heritage that we were/are a Christian nation and thus have that "privilege" to do so. Not to say that this in any way inhibited any other religion, that is clear by all acts of the Founding Fathers. They would not discriminate, but they Would hold their faith true.
"In forming and settling my belief relative to the doctrines of Christianity, I adopted no articles from creeds but such only as, on careful examination, I found to be confirmed by the Bible... At a party in Paris, once, the question fell on religious matters. In the course of it, one of them asked me if I believed in Christ. I answered that I did, and that I thanked God that I did."
He was a great man, who did great things for his country, but he held his faith high and dedicated all of his work to it. And when he was asked if he had any final words for his children on his death bed, he replied...
"They have the Book."
Jared Williams
On America's fiftieth birthday, John Jay wrote that it was his "earnest hope that the peace, happiness, and prosperity enjoyed by our beloved country may induce those who direct her national counsels to recommend a general and public return of praise to Him from whose goodness these blessings descend."
Who is this He our Chief Justice was referring to? Most certainly not George Washington...
"Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His merciful and unmerited blessings and especially for our redemption and salvation by his beloved Son."
Again, if there is still any confusion on what he is speaking about,
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve."
Chief Justice John Jay was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. He did not see a contradiction of his office with his faith, nor should anyone have such. In fact, he had no qualms with intermingling them.
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their ruler."
Not that it excluded all other religions, but that it was our innate heritage that we were/are a Christian nation and thus have that "privilege" to do so. Not to say that this in any way inhibited any other religion, that is clear by all acts of the Founding Fathers. They would not discriminate, but they Would hold their faith true.
"In forming and settling my belief relative to the doctrines of Christianity, I adopted no articles from creeds but such only as, on careful examination, I found to be confirmed by the Bible... At a party in Paris, once, the question fell on religious matters. In the course of it, one of them asked me if I believed in Christ. I answered that I did, and that I thanked God that I did."
He was a great man, who did great things for his country, but he held his faith high and dedicated all of his work to it. And when he was asked if he had any final words for his children on his death bed, he replied...
"They have the Book."
Jared Williams
