The American Soul
The American Soul
True Christianity has no gatekeepers except Christ Himself.
What happens when religious institutions claim exclusive rights to salvation? The spiritual and historical consequences are far more dangerous than many realize.
The American Soul Podcast tackles the troubling phenomenon of denominational gatekeeping, examining a recent statement by a Cardinal claiming, "Only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the means of salvation." This bold assertion contradicts the very foundation of Christian belief—that Jesus Christ alone is the path to salvation, with no denomination or institution standing as intermediary.
Scripture never mentions specific denominations as pathways to God. Rather, it consistently points to Jesus as the singular hope for humanity. When we read in Matthew 9 how Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, declaring "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners," we see his rejection of religious gatekeeping in favor of direct spiritual relationship.
The historical consequences of institutional religious power serve as sobering warnings. Drawing from the Book of Martyrs, we examine how religious persecution flourished whenever an institution claimed infallibility and exclusive spiritual authority. This pattern repeats throughout history, whether in religious contexts or political ideologies that demand absolute loyalty.
As Americans, we should remember both our spiritual and national foundations. The Great Awakening preacher George Whitefield's words still ring true today: "The door of mercy is not yet shut. There does remain yet a sacrifice for sin, for all that will accept of the Lord Jesus Christ."
What's keeping you from turning to Jesus Christ directly? As this episode concludes: there's nothing standing between you and Christ except yourself. No denomination, no human institution can claim to be the exclusive path to salvation when Scripture clearly teaches otherwise.
The American Soul Podcast
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Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Soul Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well, wherever y'all are and whatever part of the day you're in. Sure do appreciate y'all joining me, giving me a little bit of your time and a little piece of your day. I will try and use it wisely. Hopefully it'll give us all some extra tools for our toolbox and hopefully it will draw us all, as individuals and our nation as a whole closer to God and Jesus Christ. For those of y'all who continue to share the podcast with others, tell others about it. Thank you so much, very, very grateful for that. For those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast, thank you. Definitely need those prayers and I'm very grateful for them. And for those of y'all who are new, I'm glad you're here, hope you enjoy it. Hope you come back. Father, thank you for today. Thank you for you, father, and your Son, jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love and your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness, for all the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. Forgive us our sins, Forgive us our greed and our selfishness, our pride and our arrogance, our judgment of others, our lust and immorality. Help us to overcome our unbelief. We do believe. Guide us in all that we do. Guide our thoughts and our words and our actions. Help us to help those that have less than we do. Help us to help our nation turn back to you. Help us to elect men who rule in fear of you, father, who are more worried about what you say than what men say. Bless the marriages across our nation here in America and across those nations where people are listening around the world. Help us to turn to you, father, for guidance in our marriage as far as our roles and responsibilities and what we need to do and how we need to act, not the world. Be with those who are hurting right now, father, those who are alone, those who are scared, those who are being hurt and abused, those who are suffering for the name of your Son, jesus Christ, around the world, those who are suffering for the name of your son, jesus Christ, around the world. Be with those Christians in places like Syria, nigeria, china. Comfort them, give them your comfort and your peace, father, and please help us to help them in every way that we can, knowing that we would want that help if the roles were reversed and be with all those who are listening to the podcast today, father. Please guide them through their day. Give us wisdom and courage, patience, surround us with your angels and help us to do your will and God. My words here. Father, please, in your son's name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 1:Have you made time for God today? Have you made time to read his word? Have you made time to pray? And, if you're married, have you made time for your spouse? What did you give your time to yesterday? How much time did you give to working out? How much time did you give to your phone? How much time did you give to sports, to TV, to movies? It's not a hard question to answer technically, folks, but days, and we see that we gave a lot of our time to things or to people that we shouldn't have given our time and energy to. But we have to be willing to be honest. One thing before we get going.
Speaker 1:There was a post on X recently and it made me really sad, actually, because it's a man that I think wants to do a lot of good, but he posted a comment by one of the cardinals that is in the running for being the new pope, and the quote was. The idea that all religions are equal is a diabolical lie. Only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the means of salvation. It is not true. And then there's another quote. It is not true that we are all the same and that all religions are equal. The second quote is true. The first quote is an absolute lie and that's why it was really heartbreaking to see this man post it. And he seems to want to cause division inside the church.
Speaker 1:And it doesn't matter whether it's Catholic or Greek Orthodox or any version of Protestant Church of Christ, methodist, baptist, anything else, presbyterian, episcopal. If they're telling you that you have to be a member of their church in order to obtain salvation, a they're lying to you. They're not teaching you the gospel of Christ and all you have to do is very kindly ask them to show you where in scripture it particularly identifies their denomination. And and if they go on with the well, our church is the only true church. But that's they don't have any proof of that. Scripture doesn't say that there's nowhere in scripture where it talks about the Roman Catholic church or the Orthodox, greek Orthodox, or the Methodist or Baptist, or proof of that. Scripture doesn't say that there's nowhere in scripture where it talks about the Roman Catholic Church or the Orthodox, greek Orthodox, or the Methodists, or Baptists or Church of Christ Lutherans. You're not going to find it. You're not going to find it.
Speaker 1:And so the comment that you have to be part of their church in order to obtain salvation it is a lie, and it's a really dangerous lie because it convinces people that they can trust that man-made denomination over Jesus Christ. And there is nothing, no one over Jesus Christ, not the apostles, not the church fathers. Apostles not the church fathers, not Mary, not Joseph. There's no one over Jesus Christ, no other name on earth or under heaven, right. And so it just is really heartbreaking to me to see people when they're more concerned about their denomination than they are. Jesus Christ, and you should pray, I should pray, I need to do a better job praying for those people. But don't be confused, folks. I guess that's what I'm really trying to get to you here is, if you're not a part of their particular club, whatever it is, that's okay.
Speaker 1:You don't have to be Read scripture every day. That's why it's so important to read scripture every day, so that we're discerning and we know the truth. It's so important to read scripture every day so that we're discerning and we know the truth and choose to trust Jesus Christ. That's the only hope we have, folks. He's the only hope. He's the only hope I have. He's the only hope you have for him to stand in front of me on the day of judgment and for his blood to cover my sins so that I don't have to die and spend eternity in hell.
Speaker 1:The idea that only the Catholic Church, or only the Greek Orthodox, or only the Southern Baptists, or only the Methodists, the United Methodists, or only the Episcopals or Presbyterians, the idea that any of those are the only denomination, the only church quote-unquote that possesses the fullness of the means of salvation, is an absolute, complete lie. All right. So Bible, where are we Speaking of needing to read the Bible? We need to read the Bible, matthew, chapter 9. A paralytic healed. Getting into a boat. Jesus crossed over the sea and came to his own city. Getting into a boat.
Speaker 1:Jesus crossed over the sea and came to his own city and they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, jesus said to the paralytic Take courage, son, your sins are forgiven. And some of the scribes said to themselves this fellow blasphemes and Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier to say your sins are forgiven, or to say get up and walk, but so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins? Then he said to the paralytic and he got up and he went home. But when the crowd saw this, they were awestruck and glorified God, who had given such authority to men, matthew called. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector's booth and he said to him Follow me. And he got up and followed him.
Speaker 1:Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples why is your teacher eating with the tax collector and sinners? But when Jesus heard this, he said it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But it's not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire compassion and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners, the question about fasting. Then the disciples of John came to him asking why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them the attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast.
Speaker 1:But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch pulls away from the garment and a worse tear results. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the wineskins burst and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into fresh wineskins and both are preserved, miracles of healing. When he was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before him and said my daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live. Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did his disciples, and a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. For she was saying to herself If I only touch his garment I will get well. But Jesus, turning and seeing her said Daughter, take courage, your faith has made you well. At once, the woman was made well when Jesus came into the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, he said and took her by the hand and the girl got up.
Speaker 1:This news spread throughout all that land. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him crying out. When he entered the house, the blind men came up to him out have mercy on us, son of David. When he entered the house, the blind men came up to him and Jesus said to them Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to him yes, lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying it shall be done to you according to your faith, and their eyes were opened and Jesus sternly warned them See that no one knows about this. But they went out and spread the news about him throughout all that land. As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to him. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed and were saying nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel, were amazed and were saying nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel. But the Pharisees were saying he casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons. Jesus was going through all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dispirited, like sheep without a shepherd.
Speaker 1:Verse 1. A couple things if I can get back to it. Verse 9, as Jesus went on from there, he saw Matthew. He said follow me. And he got up and followed him Again, as with other disciples. How many of us are willing to just get up when Jesus calls and follow him, are willing to just get up when Jesus calls and follow him? We don't know exactly how that exchange went, but it doesn't appear there were any questions, there wasn't any arguing, there wasn't well, let me do this or let me do that, or follow you where. What do you mean follow you? Matthew just got up and followed him, left his job, left his position, followed Jesus. How many of us are willing to do that?
Speaker 1:Verse 12, but when Jesus heard this, he said it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire compassion and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. I'm no theologian folks, no pastor, priest, bishop, etc. But I've always kind of thought that this was a little bit snarky from God, right From Jesus Christ, saying, hey, if you're perfect already, you don't need me. I didn't come to call you perfect people, I just came to call those who were sinners, those who were imperfect and for whatever reason. That's always kind of made me smile a little bit. All of us are sick folks, not to the same degree, right, but all of us are sick to folks Not to the same degree, right, but all of us are sick to one degree or the other, and eventually the price is death, that the sickness isn't treated and the only treatment is God, is Jesus Christ. That's it. There's no other treatment, no denomination's, no other treatment, no denomination, no other person on earth throughout all of history. The only treatment is Jesus Christ. All right, so let's get back into.
Speaker 1:I wanted to go back now that we're into it and read a little excerpt that we read yesterday from the Book of the Martyrs. Let me see if I can find it real quick. It went along with the commentary earlier about the ex post. Though nearly all sects have persecuted their opponents during a brief season when men's passions were highly excited and true religion had mournfully declined, yet no denomination except the papal hierarchy has adopted as an article of religious belief and a principle of practical observance the right to destroy heretics for opinion's sake.
Speaker 1:The decrees of councils and the bulls of popes issued in conformity with those decrees place this matter beyond a doubt. Persecution, therefore, and popery are inseparably connected, because claiming infallibility what she has once done is right for her to do again. Yea, it must be done under similar circumstances or the claims of infallibility given up. There is no escaping this conclusion. It is right, therefore, to charge upon potpourri all the persecutions and horrid cruelties which have stained the annals of the papal church during her long and bloody career of darkness and crime, every sigh which has been heaved in the dungeons of the Inquisition, every groan which has been exhorted by the racks and instruments of torture which the malice of her bigoted votaries, stimulated by infernal wisdom, ever invented. The claim that the Catholic Church is the only means to salvation, like that cardinal did folks, is to claim that God justifies burning people alive for reading scripture and clinging to his word and that they're infallible for having done so. And if they're infallible, folks, then they can do it again.
Speaker 1:This is what you see without exception when the left, leftism, socialism, communism, nazism, fascism, right, they're all just different shades of the same evil. When they get in power, they only want coexistence until they gain enough power and then, once they get in power, they crush everyone and everything that doesn't fall in line with them. Every example throughout all of history look at the last century, look at the 20th century, look at China, ussr, vietnam, cambodia, north Korea, right and Islam goes hand in glove with those ideologies. Look at what's going on to Christians in Syria right now, nigeria, iran, right. Look at what's going on to Christians in Syria right now, nigeria, iran, right. Look at what's going on with anybody in those Muslim countries that doesn't get in line with Islam, okay.
Speaker 1:And then look at the history of the Catholic Church and what they've done and ask yourself the question what they've done, and ask yourself the question if their actions are infallible, if, if that denomination and folks I've I've known some Catholics, some really good ones, phenomenal ones. I'm not talking about individuals in their faith in Christ as an individual, but the organization as a whole, the institution. Do you think it would happen again? That's a question you ought to at least be willing to ask yourself, folks. All right, so we're going to keep reading. Okay, all right, so we're going to keep reading and find where we stopped yesterday.
Speaker 1:Moreover, the papal system has opposed the march of civilization and liberty throughout the world by denouncing the circulation of the Bible and the general diffusion of knowledge. Turn to every land where potpourri predominates and you will find an ignorant and debased peasantry, a profligate nobility and a priesthood licentious, avaricious, domineering and cruel. But it may be asked is potpourri the same system now as in the days of Cardinal Bonner and the Bloody Mary? We answer yes. It is the boast of all Catholics that their church never buries, either in spirit or in practice. For evidence of this, look at the demonstrations of her spirit and the persecutions in the south of France for several years after the restoration of the Bourbons in 1814. All have witnessed with feelings of detestation the recent efforts of the Apostolicals in Spain and Portugal to crush the friends of civil and religious liberty in those ill-fated countries and those ill-fated countries. The narrative of a sad Shadiq clearly indicates that the spirit of Popery has lost none of its ferocity and bloodthirstiness since the Piedmontese War and the Bartholomew Massacre. And the Bartholomew Massacre when it has power, its victims are still crushed by the same means which filled the dungeons of the Inquisition and fed the fires of the Auto-Defay.
Speaker 1:This is the religion to diffuse which strenuous efforts are now making in this country. Already, the papal church numbers more than half a million of communicants. This number is rapidly augmenting by immigration from Catholic countries and by the conversion of Protestant children who are placed in their schools for instruction. The recent events in Europe will no doubt send to our shores hundreds of Jesuit priests with a portion of that immense revenue which the papal church has hitherto enjoyed. Another thing which will no doubt favor their views is the disposition manifested among some who style themselves liberalists, to aid Catholics in the erection of mass houses, colleges, convents and theological seminaries. This has been done in numerous instances, and when a note of warning is raised by the true friends of civil and religious liberty, they are treated as bigots by those very men who are contributing of their substance to diffuse and foster the most intolerant system of bigotry and cruel, unrelenting despotism the world has ever seen.
Speaker 1:Other sex denominations have persecuted during some periods of their history, but all now deny the right and reprobate the practice, except Catholics. Practice except Catholics. The right to destroy heretics is a fundamental article in the creed of the papal church, and wherever her power is not cramped, she still exercises that power to the destruction of all who oppose her unrighteous usurpation. All the blood shed by all other Christian sects is no more, in comparison to that shed by the papacy, than the short-lived flow of a feeble rill raised by the passing tempest to the deep, overwhelming tide of a mighty river which receives as tributaries the waters of a thousand streams. We trust the present work, therefore, will prove a salutary check to the progress of that system whose practical effects have been, ever and ever must be, licentiousness, cruelty and blood. Licentiousness, cruelty and blood.
Speaker 1:The narratives of Asad Shaddiq, mrs Judson, the persecutions in the West Indies and in Switzerland have never before been incorporated into any book of martyrs. They serve to show the hideous nature of persecution and the benefit of Christian missions. At the close of this volume will be found a sketch of the French Revolution of 1789 as connected with persecution. It has long been the practice of infidels to sneer at Christianity because some of its nominal followers have exhibited a persecuting spirit Sorry, I've got to find my spot again and although they knew that Christianity condemns persecution in the most pointed manner, yet they have never had the generosity to discriminate between the system and the abuse of the system by wicked men. Infidelity, on the other hand, has nothing to redeem it. It imposes no restraint on the violent and headlong passions of men. Coming to men with the Circean cup of licentiousness in her hand, with fairer promises of freedom, she first stupefies the conscience and brutifies the affections, and then renders her voyteurs the most abject slaves of guilt and crime. This was exemplified in the French Revolution.
Speaker 1:For centuries, the Bible has been taken away and the key of knowledge rested from the people. For a little moment, france broke the chains which superstition had flung around her. Not content, however, with this, she attempted to break the yoke of God. She stamped the Bible in the dust and proclaimed the jubilee of licentiousness unvisited either by present or future retribution. Mark the consequence. Anarchy broke in like a flood, from whose boiling surge Blood spouted up in living streams and on whose troubled waves Floated the headless bodies of the learned, the good, the beautiful and the brave. The most merciless Prescription for opinion's sake followed A word, a sigh, or a sigh or a look, supposed inimical to the ruling powers, was followed with instant death. The calm which succeeded was only the less dreaded because it presented fewer objects of terrific interest, as the shock of the earthquake creates more instant alarm than the midnight pestilence when it walks unseen, unknown, amidst the habitations of a populist city.
Speaker 1:The infidel persecutions in France and Switzerland afford a solemn lesson to the people of this country. We have men among us now, most of them, it is true, vagabond foreigners, who are attempting to propagate the same sentiments which produce such terrible consequences in France. Under various names, they are scattering their pestilent doctrines throughout the country. Their pestilent doctrines throughout the country, as in France, they have commenced their attacks upon the Bible, the Sabbath, marriage and all the social and domestic relations of life. With flatteries and lies, they are attempting to sow the seeds of discontent and future rebellion among the people. The ferocity of their attacks upon those who differ from them, even while restrained by public opinion, shows what they would do provided they could pull down our institutions and introduce disorder and wild misrule. We trust, therefore, that the article on the revolution in France will be found highly instructive and useful. That's the end of the preface.
Speaker 1:I think the best thing I can do is to go back and reread that again on the next podcast. There's so much that's so important in there. I'll leave you with one thing before we move on here, though, and that is just this one sentence. Where it has the power, its victims are still crushed by the same means which filled the dungeons of the Inquisition and fed the fires of the auto buffet Folks. Leftism, socialism, communism, nazism, fascism all of those that are just different shades of the same evil. They want coexistence, peaceful coexistence when they're not in power, but they only want it as a means to gain time to get to power. Same thing with Islam, which goes hand in glove with those, and you have to ask yourself the question, based on history, about the Catholic Church.
Speaker 1:If any of those ideologies or organizations or institutions however you want to label it are in total power, what is going to restrain them from crushing their victims in the same way they have in the past? Has anything changed? You need, you need. If you don't know the answer to that, you need to really look around the world and see and be able to answer that question. Is there any period in time when the left socialists, communists, nazis, fascists when they have had total power, where they didn't crush their victims, crush anybody that disagreed with them?
Speaker 1:Islam, when they're in total power, when they have no reason right? You look at some of the countries that you think that would automatically pop into mind Saudi Arabia, jordan perhaps, but they have ties to us in America and they have enemies there. They're not really in total power and they have enemies there. They're not really in total power. Anytime there's total power, do you see Islam offering mercy and peace, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, or do you see them still crushing their victims? Look at Syria right now and then, as hard as this is, folks, and it is really hard you need to ask yourself that about Catholicism If, given total power, if they were the undisputed institution in America, would they offer peace and tolerance? And you need to look and we're going to read through it again. I think that's just the best thing I could do is to reread this particular part again tomorrow, when you talk about theological seminaries, schools and the comparison with other Christian denominations.
Speaker 1:All right, medal of Honor, let's see where we go today. I think we have a couple short ones. Okay, let's see where we go today. I think we have a couple short ones. Okay, let's see Albert Ames no, aldebert with a D. Aldebert Ames, first Lieutenant, highest rank Brevet Major General, us Civil War.
Speaker 1:Fifth US Artillery US Army. Medal of Honor Action date July 21st US Army. Medal of Honor Action Day July 21, 1861, place Bull Run, virginia. Remained upon the field in command of a section of Griffin's battery, directing its fire after being severely wounded, but refusing to leave the field until two weeks to sit upon the Cassion where he had been placed by men of his command. Casson I know I'm saying that wrong, those of y'all that were in artillery, forgive me. Accredited to Rockland, knox County, maine. Not awarded. Posthumously Presented June 22, 1894. Born October 31, 1835 in Rockland, knox County. Died April 13, 1933, ormond, florida. Buried in the Hilderith Family Cemetery, lowe, massachusetts, united States, or Maine.
Speaker 1:Aldebert Ames US Civil War. I think we're going to do one more because that was pretty short. Robert Wesley Ammerman. Private US Civil War. Bravo Company, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry US Army. Action date May 12, 1864. Place Botsylvania, virginia. Captured the battle flag of the 8th North Carolina, being one of the foremost in the assault. Being one of the foremost in the assault. Accredited to Milesburg, century County, pennsylvania, not awarded. Posthumously Presented January 31, 1865. Born 1841, century County, pennsylvania, united States. Died September 30, 1907, mcallisterville, pennsylvania. Buried Loss Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, pm. Left side rear, mcallisterville, pennsylvania, united States.
Speaker 1:Robert Wesley Hammerman, that we really need to do a better job of remembering, more so than professional athletes or singers, songwriters, actors, actresses, politicians, businessmen, right, you know, you have to ask yourself the question why don't we teach these in school? And maybe they do. Maybe you could ask your school and your high school how many of the students know these names, how many of them learn any of the names of our Medal of Honor recipients, especially ones that maybe haven't been in the news over the last decade or so? It would be interesting, though, to see how many students knew even one Medal of Honor recipient name, or had maybe didn't even know it, but just had talked about it in class, and they could tell you that for sure.
Speaker 1:All right, so I got two quotes for you today. One is by a Filipino or Philippine general from World War II. I think we've read it recently on here, but I wanted to read it again. It's a great quote by Carlos Romulo.
Speaker 1:Never forget, americans, that yours is a spiritual country. Yes, I know that you're a practical people. Like others, I've marveled at your factories, your skyscrapers and your arsenals, but underlying everything else is the fact that America began as a God-fearing, god-loving, god-worshiping people. That's how we started folks as a republic God-fearing, god-loving, god-worshiping people. I think, sadly, we would have to say we are no longer there and we're suffering for it.
Speaker 1:Another is a quote apparently pretty common, by George Whitefield, who was one of the preachers during America's Great Awakening. The preachers during America's Great Awakening. He toured the preaching field, if you will, from 1739 to 1740. And his last sermon on Boston Common drew 23,000 people. We need another Great Awakening folks.
Speaker 1:By the way, if you don't realize this or know it but this is his quote I offer you salvation this day. The door of mercy is not yet shut. There does remain yet a sacrifice for sin, for all that will accept of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will embrace you in the arms of his love. Oh, turn to him. Turn in a sense of your own unworthiness, tell him how polluted you are, how vile, and be not faithless but believing. Why fear ye that the Lord Jesus Christ will not accept of you? Your sins will be no hindrance your unworthiness, no hindrance If your own. If you don't know Christ, I encourage you to turn to him.
Speaker 1:There's nothing to stop you. You don't have to belong to a particular denomination. There's nothing to stop you. You don't have to belong to a particular denomination. You don't have to believe what some particular church says in their man-made doctrine. There is no other name to turn to. You can't turn to one of the apostles. You can't turn to the thief on the cross. You can't turn to Mary. You can't turn to Joseph. You can only turn to Jesus Christ. And there's nothing to keep you from turning to Jesus Christ except yourself. That's the only thing, folks, it doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter where you are if you're in prison, if you're not. It doesn't matter what your sins are or have been or will be. There's nothing to keep you from turning to Jesus Christ, except you. There is nothing to keep our nation from turning back to God and Jesus Christ except us. We, the people. We like to venerate that, so to use that as some kind of just pride. Look at us. We're so awesome. We created this, we, the people, for the people, by the people government, and we don't need anybody else and look what we're doing right now, because we don't quote need anybody else. We desperately need God and Jesus Christ and there's nothing keeping us from them except up.
Speaker 1:All right, we're going to get back into for the last few minutes today, our history of the rise, progress and termination of the American Revolution by Mercy Otis Warren, and I think we finished the preface. We're going to start with volume one, chapter one History the deposit of crimes and the record of everything disgraceful or honorary to mankind. History of causes and precision of language. To detail the events that have preceded the most remarkable revolutions, to analyze the secret springs that have affected the progressive changes in society, to trace the origin of the various modes of government, the consequent improvements in science and morality, or the national tincture that marks the manners of the people under despotic or more liberal forms, is a bold and adventurous work.
Speaker 1:The study of the human character opens at once a beautiful and a deformed picture of the soul. We there find a noble principle implanted in the nature of man that pants for distinction. This principle operates in every bosom and when kept under the control of reason and the influence of humanity, it produces the most benevolent effects. But when the checks of conscience are thrown aside or the moral sense weakened by the sudden acquisition of wealth or power. Humanity is obscured, and if a favorable coincidence of circumstances permits, this love of distinction often exhibits the most mortifying instances of affligacy. That's not how you say that, sorry.
Speaker 1:Tyranny and the wanton exercise of arbitrary sway. Thus, when we look over the theater of human action, scrutinize the windings of the heart and survey the transactions of man from the earliest to the present period, it must be acknowledged that ambition and avarice are the leading springs which, generally acute, actuate the restless mind. From these primary sources of corruption have arisen all the rapine and confusion, the depredation and ruin that have spread distress over the face of the earth from the days of Nimrod to Caesar, and from Caesar to an arbitrary prince of the House of Brunswick. The indulgences, the indulgence of these turbulent passions as depopulated cities laid waste to the finest territories and turned the beauty and harmony of the lower creation into an akoldama. That's not how you say that either, folks Sorry. Yes, that's not how you say that either, folks Sorry.
Speaker 1:Yet candor must bear honorable testimony to many signal instances of disinterested merit among the children of men. Thus it is not possible to pronounce decidedly onumerable instances of deception, both in ancient and modern story, by the appearance of justice, clemency and moderation, while the savage Nero shamelessly weltered in the blood of the citizens. But the sole object of each was to become the sovereign of life and property and to govern the Roman world with a despotic hand. Time may unlock the cabinets of princes, unfold the secret negotiations of statesmen and hand down the immortal characters of dignified worth or the blackened traits of finished villainy and exaggerated colors. But truth is most likely to be exhibited by the general sense of contemporaries, when the feelings of the heart can be expressed without suffering itself to be disguised by the prejudices of men. Yet it is not easy to convey to posterity a just idea of the embarrassed situation of the Western world previous to the rupture with Britain, the dismemberment of the empire and the loss of the most industrious, flourishing and perhaps virtuous colonies ever planted by the hand of man.
Speaker 1:The progress of the American Revolution has been so rapid and such the alteration of manners, the blending of characters and the new train of ideas that almost universally prevail, that the principles which animated the noblest exertions have been nearly annihilated. Many who first stepped forth in vindication of the rights of human nature are forgotten, and the causes, which involve the thirteen colonies in confusion and blood, are scarcely known amidst the rage of accumulation and the taste for expensive pleasures that have since prevailed, a taste that has abolished that mediocrity which once satisfied and the contentment which long smiled in every countenance, luxury, the companion of young acquired wealth, is usually the consequence of opposition to or close connection with opulent commercial states. Thus, the hurry of spirits that ever attends the eager pursuit of fortune and a passion for splendid enjoyment leads to forgetfulness, and thus the inhabitants of America cease to look back with due gratitude and respect on the fortitude and virtue of their ancestors who, through difficulties almost insurmountable, planted them in a happy foil. But the historian and the philosopher will ever venerate the memory of those pious and independent gentlemen who, after suffering innumerable impositions, restrictions and penalties less for political than theological opinions, left England not as adventurers for wealth or fame, but for the quiet enjoyment of religion and liberty. You read this last paragraph here.
Speaker 1:I think we'll stop here for the day. Many who first stepped forth in vindication of the rights of human nature are forgotten, and the causes, the original causes of the 13 colonies, are scarcely known. We forget, right. We worry about luxury, we worry about wealth, we pursue fortune and passion for enjoyment, and it leads to forgetfulness, leads to forgetfulness. You could hardly argue that we, as the modern-day inhabitants of America, have ceased to look back with due gratitude and respect on the fortitude and the virtue, in particular, of our ancestors, the difficulties, the pains that they suffered that put us where we are today. How much did those who went before us suffer to give us all that we've been given today?
Speaker 1:You can talk about that from the church point of view. We talk about these martyrs each day. You can talk about it from the Medal of Honor point of view, these men that suffered so much to protect us, to protect our nation. Talk about our founding fathers. You can talk about she goes back, ms Warren here in the end, this last sentence, right, talking about those who left Europe. But the historian and the philosopher will ever venerate the memory of those pious and independent gentlemen who, after suffering innumerable impositions, restrictions and penalties, less for political than theological opinion, left England not as adventurers for wealth or fame, but for the quiet enjoyment of religion and liberty. Right, we talk about the pilgrims. Often they didn't come here for greed, tortured, raped, beaten, having their property confiscated, burned at the stake. Our founders risk everything right. Declaration of independence. We mutually pledge ourselves what Our sacred honor, our life, our fortunes, our families.
Speaker 1:Do we look back in gratitude enough? And then, ultimately, folks, do we look back in gratitude enough to Jesus Christ? I mean, that's ultimately where we ought to look back with the most gratitude. I can tell you for sure that I don't look back with enough gratitude on a day-to-day basis. God, please forgive us our lack of gratitude for your son, jesus Christ. God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages, if you're married. God bless America. God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world. Listen, we'll talk to y'all again real soon. Folks Looking forward to it.