The American Soul
The American Soul
Heaven's Lottery Ticket: Are You Letting Your Face Know You Won?
What if everything you're chasing—the dream job, the perfect relationship, the financial security—can't actually deliver the contentment you're seeking? This profound question sits at the heart of our exploration into true satisfaction and spiritual peace in a world obsessed with achievement.
Drawing from timeless wisdom and contemporary insights, we unpack why so many successful people remain fundamentally unhappy despite having everything they once dreamed of. The answer, as revealed through both historical examples and scriptural promises, points to a spiritual foundation that transcends external circumstances.
The Pilgrims, despite facing unimaginable hardships where most lost their lives to illness and starvation, displayed remarkable contentment in their writings. Their peace flowed from an unshakable faith that whatever happened in this world was temporary compared to eternity with their Creator. This eternal perspective—beautifully captured in Revelation 21's promise that God "will wipe away every tear" and eliminate all suffering—offers a framework for contentment that material success simply cannot provide.
William Cullen Bryant, father of American poets, recognized this spiritual truth when he wrote that there could be "no admiration too profound, no love too warm, no gratitude too deep" toward Jesus Christ. Bryant understood that our society's peace and cohesion depend significantly on Christian influence, even extending to those who don't explicitly acknowledge it.
The implications extend beyond personal satisfaction to our collective national character. As we've drifted from these spiritual foundations, we've witnessed increasing social fragmentation that threatens the very fabric of American community.
Ready to experience the contentment that transcends circumstances? Make time today to read scripture, pray, and create space for God's presence in your busy life. As one pastor noted, those who know they've "won the lottery of eternal life" should let their faces reflect that joy—offering a powerful testimony to a world desperately seeking lasting peace.
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. I sure do appreciate y'all joining me and giving me a little bit of your time and a little piece of your day. I know y'all have other things pulling for your mind, for your attention, so I appreciate you giving me some of it. We'll try and use it wisely. Hopefully it will give us all some extra tools for our toolbox, as we used to say in the Marine Corps, and hopefully it'll help us all draw a little bit closer to God and Jesus Christ, even if just for just a little bit. Every little bit helps. For those of y'all that have been around for a while, I'm glad you have stuck around. For those of y'all that are new to the podcast, I hope you enjoy it. I hope you get something out of it. I hope you come back. For those of y'all that continue to support the podcast, to share it with others, thank you so much. Very, very grateful for that. And for those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast, thank you so much. Desperately need those prayers. I want them. I cherish them.
Speaker 1:Father, thank you for today. Thank you for you, father, and your Son, jesus Christ, and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for this life. Thank you for all the blessings that you bestowed on us as individuals and as a nation, the resources, the talents that you've given us. Thank you most of all, father, for the mercy that you've blessed us with, particularly through your son, jesus Christ, and the promise of heaven that one day we will be in heaven with you and your Son and the Holy Spirit for all eternity, where there will be no more tears and no more sorrow, no more sadness, no more broken bodies, no more pain, no more physical or mental issues. Thank you so much, father. What a wonderful promise. Forgive us our doubts, father. Forgive us our unbelief. Help us to overcome it. We do believe.
Speaker 1:Thank you for those listening to the podcast today, wherever they are, across the nation, around the world, please be with them, be with their families. Give them wisdom and courage and a strong faith. Help them to feel your presence each day. Help us all to feel your presence each day. Help us all to feel your presence each day, father. Draw us closer to you. Be with our leaders, be with those in the interim. Be with those in Iran, in the Middle East in general. Be with the poor and the needy, the widow and the orphan across the globe. Be with the poor and the needy, the widow and the orphan across the globe. Help us to help those that are in our communities, our churches, our homes, our schools. Help us to love your son and follow his commands and therefore to love you with all that we are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be with our pastors and our priests. Help them. The preacher, your word, father. Help us to support them and their wives and their families. 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, to talk to him, to listen to him? I say that so often, folks. I struggle with that. Maybe some of y'all do too.
Speaker 1:We've become a society that's so used to just constantly going, and I don't think it's any mistake. I think it's something the devil absolutely wants. He wants us going so constantly that we don't have time to sit still and listen to God and to bring that worry and that chaos and confusion and anxiety into our lives so that we not purposefully even, but we block out that peace that God offers. There's a post, and I can't remember, from X, it's within the last couple days. There's a post, and I can't remember, from exits, within the last couple of days, and they were talking about this, about the need to know you get up and you, you work whatever job you're able to work at that point and and you try and follow your roles and responsibilities as a husband or a wife, if you're married and you know, or, or a kid, or a parent, or whatever your role is at this time, according to God, and then you really let the rest worry about itself.
Speaker 1:One of the pastors that I listen to occasionally he was talking about this also this week the need to really. He was talking about being content and some of the most content people in fact, he said the most content people that he knew were those who were intent just in their faith and their relationship with God. He said so many of us. He said we get this goal in mind and we think, man, once I finally get this goal, then I'll be set, he said, and I know people like this. He said when I get married, you know, man, then it's finally going to be okay. When I'm my own boss, when I have my own company, then it's finally going to be okay. When I'm my own boss, when I have my own company, then it's finally going to be okay. When we have kids, when we finally have some kids, man, then I'm really going to be set. When I get this degree from high school or from college, then it's going to be set. Or when I get this job that I've really been working on, then I'm going to be good. And he said I can't tell you working on then I'm going to be good. And he said I can't tell you.
Speaker 1:I know people, I know them, you know he was saying like I in my life and they have so much, they have this job that they wanted. They got married to this person that they wanted to get married. They have all this money he said, phenomenal amounts of money in some cases right and they're still miserable, they're still unhappy, they're still not content. Why, if you married this person, that was just this perfect spouse for you, and if you have these wonderful kids, and if you have this great job, and if you have this degree from this really respected college, or you have this degree in apprenticeship that got you this vocational job. That's such a good job and you're making such good money.
Speaker 1:Why are we still discontent? Why do we always seem to be striving for more? Why are we never satisfied? Because those things can't bring you satisfaction. Folks. I'm talking to myself here, preaching to myself as it is as much as any of y'all Money, job, sex, degree, marriage, whatever it is that you're chasing right now. No, the only thing that can offer us long-term satisfaction is God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And this is true, folks, not only for us as individuals, but for us as a people, as a nation, here in America and wherever you are around the world. Listen right now, whether you're in the UK or France, canada we have a few in all of those places and others. Your nation as a whole is never going to be content if your focus is not on God and Jesus Christ at the core.
Speaker 1:You know you think about the pilgrims. We come back and we talk about them every once in a while throughout the years, and they made this trip and you know they had no clue what they were walking into. Most of them died. It was just trying in the extreme, from illness and sickness to just the trip itself. And then, even once they got there, it wasn't like they got to America and everything was suddenly magically easy. It wasn't, it just got harder. And yet when you go back and you read some of the writings from that time, especially with the pilgrims, you see this contentment because of their relationship with God and Jesus Christ. It didn't mean that times weren't hard, it didn't mean that they didn't suffer folks, but that contentment, that satisfaction, came from the relationship they had with God and Jesus Christ and knowing that whatever happened in this world when they passed on, they were going to end up spending eternity with God and Jesus Christ. I need to move on for today, but I'll leave you with this.
Speaker 1:One of my pastors actually I've had a number of pastors over the years that have made this comment those of us who have a relationship with Jesus, christ Christ and we know that one day we're going to spend eternity in heaven with God and Jesus Christ, sometimes we need to let our faces know that. He said. Sometimes we go around and we were kind of grumpy, frumpy people and and we frown a lot and we're always anxious and upset and you know this just constant grind of trying to work more, be more, do more. And he said we need to make sure that we remind our faces from time to time that we've won the lottery, the eternal life lottery, that we have this relationship with God and Jesus Christ, and but not because of us, because there's nothing we can do, it's not on our shoulders, it's on God's, it's on Jesus Christ. And and because they promise they're going to do it, folks and that's not me talking as if I don't ever have any doubts I don't want some of y'all out there that struggle with unbelief and doubts to think that I don't ever have any doubts because I do. But what I'm saying is that all the pressure is on God and Jesus Christ. It's not on us, it's not on us. All we have to do is accept God. Okay, god, you said that I choose to believe in your son, that Jesus Christ is your son, that he died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I confess that with my mouth and I'm choosing to believe that in my heart. Everything else is on you, because I can't do it, and that ought to bring us peace, folks, and comfort. It doesn't matter what age we are. It doesn't matter whether we're in junior, high or high school or college, or 20s or 30s or 50s or 70s or 80s or 90s. It ought to bring us peace and comfort and put a smile on our face, and there ought to be people looking at us going. Why are they content? Because that looks like that's a pretty good deal, and I'm interested in that.
Speaker 1:Revelation 21 All things made new. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no more sea. Then I, john, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne said Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said to me it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable murderers, sexually immoral sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, the new Jerusalem.
Speaker 1:Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also, she had a great and high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates and names written on them which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel Three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Speaker 1:And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square. Its length is as great as its breadth, and he measured the city with a reed. Twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth and height are equal. Then he measured its wall one hundred and forty-four cubits according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Speaker 1:The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardis, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each individual gate was of one pearl and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass, the glory of the new Jerusalem.
Speaker 1:But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord, god Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light, and the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day. There shall be no night there, and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. What a great deal to have your name written in the book of life because of Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful place to live where the gates are never shut, where you don't have to worry about evil men or women trying to break in and cause destruction. And just what a wonderful life for all eternity to be able to walk with God and Jesus Christ in their light Right. God and Jesus Christ, and their light Right and their being. What does it say here, god, having wiped away every tear from their eyes? There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cry, there shall be no more pain for the former things that passed away.
Speaker 1:Whatever heartache you're going through, folks, whatever pain is in your life maybe you've got an illness that just won't go away. Maybe you've got an injury that's left you with a permanent limp or disfigurement. Maybe you're heartbroken because you've lost a child or your spouse or a friend that was like a brother or sister, or an actual brother or sister, or a parent friend that was like a brother or sister or an actual brother or sister or a parent. You know, I talk about this young lady from the town down the road often on the podcast because she's on my mind often, and she's a young girl in high school and was at home one Friday night just waiting on her parents and her brother to get home and they never got home. They died in a car wreck going from a golf tournament to a baseball game and that young girl lost her parents and her brother all at once.
Speaker 1:And that heartache a lot of us don't know that particular heartache we have others right. That's one of the things, folks, that has also really been on my mind is don't ever assume that you know that somebody else doesn't have a rough life, whether it's just because of outward appearance, of money, just because you see them day to day and they're smiling, you have no idea what they're going through. Don't make the arrogant assumption that you know that they don't have any heartache in their life. You have no idea what is going on and how much. Just a little bit of kindness from you, patience from you, compassion from you would help that person.
Speaker 1:You know, a lot of times we look at people and they look like the picture postcard perfect family postcard perfect family loving husband and wife, beautiful kids, money. And we don't see the miscarriages that have gone on before. We don't see the overwhelming mountain of debt that they're hiding from the public. We don't see the fact that the husband and wife go home and barely talk to each other, that the husband and wife go home and barely talk to each other. We don't see that the kids sneak off and do things that they shouldn't do and the pain that that brings. We don't see whatever it is, folks. We don't see the parent that they've got in their life that is cruel to them or that's never been there for them or that maybe used to be there and then, you know, somehow went away. We don't. We don't see all these things, folks, I I got way sidetracked there, but make sure that you don't assume that you know that somebody else has this easy life compared to you. But what a great promise. Again, god will wipe away every tear, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. A wonderful hope and promise. And then again this imagery, folks, the bride adorned for her husband, the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And then you hear it again down here, the angel talking saying Come and I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Speaker 1:Folks, we have roles and responsibilities as a husband and wife. We talk about it frequently. I was thinking about this often, or just the other day, it's been a while since I've done one of those marriage podcasts and maybe we need to do another one, because we certainly don't seem to be able to figure it out as a nation. But those scriptures are super clear, they're not gray, they're not hard to figure out 1 Peter 3, 1 Corinthians 7, ephesians 5, titus 2, proverbs 5, 19, hebrews, 13, 4, song of Solomon.
Speaker 1:We have roles and responsibilities and that relationship is supposed to mirror, to be an example to the world of that relationship between Christ and the church. Are we setting a good example for our kids, if we have them, for those around us, if we don't, for both either way. But our community, our church? If people looked at us as a husband and wife and we're supposed to exemplify the relationship between Christ and the church, what kind of example are they getting? Is it something they're interested in? Do they look at us and they go man, that's a great marriage, and not only am I interested in marriage now, but I'm pretty interested in this guy called Jesus Christ. Or do they look at us and go man, there's no way I'm ever getting married. That's horrible, that looks just horrible and I certainly don't want anything to do with this person, jesus Christ, that they talk about. What kind of example are you setting? Folks?
Speaker 1:And then the last thing here, verse 7 and 8,. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. God, what a comfort when you think about being God's son or daughter. Just what a comfort. You don't have to compete for their affection or attention anymore. It's not an earthly parent. You don't have to strive to make sure that you're not a failure to them, you don't have to beg for their love or attention or affection. God is your Father because of Jesus Christ, his son, your brother, your friend man. What an amazing. And then eight.
Speaker 1:But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable murderers, sexually immoral sorcerers, idolaters and all liars still have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death that pretty much ought to cover everybody in there. And the only way we don't end up in that lake which burns forever, folks, is what Jesus Christ, his blood, his sacrifice standing in place for us. That's it. That's the only way. Thank you, thank you, father, for Jesus Christ. William Cullen Bryant, father of American poets. Editor, new York Evening Post.
Speaker 1:The very men who, in the pride of their investigations into the secrets of the eternal internal world, turn a look of scorn upon the Christian system of belief, are not aware how much of the peace and order of society, how much the happiness of households and the purest of those who are the dearest to them are owing to the influence of that religion extending beyond their sphere. In my view, the life, the teachings, the labors and the sufferings of the blessed Jesus. There can be no admiration too profound, no love of which the human heart is capable too warm, no gratitude too earnest and deep of which he is justly the object. I read through history often folks Lincoln's one of the ones that strikes me, but there's a number of them. I feel like I don't adore Jesus Christ. There's a number of them. I feel like I don't adore Jesus Christ enough. I don't have enough gratitude for Jesus Christ. I don't have enough love, no feelings of warmth toward my Savior. I don't have enough.
Speaker 1:This first part of this quote that we read by Mr Bryant we don't have a clue how much of our society depends on Jesus Christ. And we don't have a clue—we should, because it's blatantly obvious but we don't have a clue how much of our society is falling apart Because we have rejected God and his son. You know there was a Muslim socialist is the way that he's being described that just won election in New York. We don't have a clue, folks, but we're about to. There is absolutely no way for liberty to survive, for this fantasy of peaceful coexistence to occur with people who follow the ideals, the evil of leftism, socialism, communism, nazism, fascism or Islam, which goes hand in glove with those. You cannot have it. It won't happen. Theoretically it's impossible and history and experience show it to be impossible. That election in New York seems like a small thing maybe to some people, folks, but it just is one more step closer to civil war. In my opinion, when you go back and you look at particularly to me, the Revolutionary War, you see all these little steps that many of them individually seem just that, just seem like a little thing. But when you start to add them up it's clear that there was just one step more. It's kind of like a soldier trudging along the road, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, getting closer and closer to the front, to the battle lines.
Speaker 1:Let's see our Medal of Honors. Let's see our medal of honors. I think we have time to read through at least one. Where did we leave off? Carrollton, william Barrett. Yeah, I think that was it. Let's see Edward Barrett, second Class Fireman, interim Period 1871-1899. Unit Command USS Alaska, us Navy, september 14, 1881. Below Bay, us Navy, september 14, 1881,. Calo Bay, peru, calio Calio, I don't know On board the USS Alaska at Calo Bay, peru, 14 September 1881, following the rupture of the stop valve chamber, barrett courageously hauled the fires from under the boiler of that vessel.
Speaker 1:Accredited to Pennsylvania, not awarded posthumously. Born 1855, philadelphia, philadelphia County, pennsylvania, united States. No known date of death. Edward Barrett, those always make me just a little bit sad and very curious. How did we end up with Medal of Honor winners that we don't know what happened to them? Richard Barrett. Richard Barrett, 1st Sergeant Indian Campaigns Alpha Company, 1st US Cavalry, us Army. 23 May 1872, sycamore Canyon, arizona. Conspicuous gallantry in a charge upon the Tonto Apaches. Accredited to Buffalo, erie County, new York, not awarded posthumously. Presented April 12, 1875, born 1838, county Mayo, ireland. Died March 20, 1898, washington DC. Buried Soldier's Home National Cemetery, mhk Tax 6765, washington DC. Buried Soldiers Home National Cemetery, mhk TAC 6765, washington DC, united States.
Speaker 1:Richard Barrett, from Ireland, folks who gave obviously served our country, this country, so well for so long. Quite different than the immigrants that we see spreading chaos, burning, looting, attacking police today, a whole different breed of cattle. All right, we'll move on. We're going to get back into Fox's Book of the Martyrs and we're talking about an account of the life and sufferings of Mr William Lithgow, a native of Scotland. We're under that section.
Speaker 1:These orders were strictly discharged and on the governor's return, he with the officers having seen themselves seen themselves, mr lithgow was brought before them for examination. The governor a closet where, in a short space of time, he was visited by the town captain, who inquired whether he had ever been at Seville or was lately come from thence and, patting his cheeks with an air of friendship, conjured him to tell the truth. Or said he, your very countenance shows there is some hidden matter in your mind which produce prudence should direct you to disclose. Finding himself, however, unable to exhort anything from the prisoner, he left him and reported the same to the governor and other officers, on which Mr Lithgow was again brought before them. A general accusation was laid against him and he was compelled to swear that he would give true answers to such questions as should be asked him.
Speaker 1:The governor proceeded to inquire the quality of the English commander and the prisoner's opinion. What were the motives that prevented his accepting an invitation from him to come on shore? He demanded likewise the names of the English captains in the squadron and what knowledge he had of the embarkation or preparation for it before his departure from England. The answers given to the several questions asked were set down in writing by the notary. But the Junto seemed surprised at his denying any knowledge of the fitting out of the fleet, particularly the governor, who said he lied that he was a traitor and a spy and came directly from England to favor and assist the designs that were projected against Spain, and that he had been for that purpose nine months in Seville in order to procure intelligence of the time the Spanish Navy was expected from the Indies. They exclaimed against his familiarity with the officers of the fleet and many other English gentlemen between whom, they said, unusual civilities had passed, but all these transactions had been carefully noticed. Besides, to sum up the whole and put the truth past all doubt, they said he came from a council of war held that morning on board the admiral's ship In order to put in execution the orders assigned him. They upbraided him with being accessory to the burning of the island of St Thomas in the West Indies. Wherefore, said they, these Lutherans and sons of the devil ought to have no credit given to what they say or swear.
Speaker 1:In vain did Mr Lithgow endeavor to obviate every accusation laid against him and to obtain belief from his prejudiced judges. He begged permission to send for his cloak bag, which contained his papers and might serve to show his innocence. This request they complied with, thinking it would discover some things of which they were ignorant. The cloak bag was accordingly brought and, being opened, among other things was found a license from King James I, under the sign manual setting forth the bearer's intention to travel into Egypt, which was treated by the haughty Spaniards with great contempt. The other papers consisted of passports, testimonials, etc. The other papers consisted of passports, testimonials etc. Of persons of quality. All of these credentials, however, seemed rather to confirm than abate the suspicions of these prejudiced judges who, after seizing all of the prisoners' papers, ordered him again to withdraw.
Speaker 1:In the meantime, a consultation was held to fix the place where the prisoner should be confined. The alcalade, or chief judge, was for putting him into the town prison, but this was objected to, particularly by the corregidor, who said in spanish in order to prevent the knowledge of his confinement from reaching his countrymen, I will take the matter on myself and be answerable for the consequences Upon which it was agreed that he should be confined in the governor's house with the greatest secrecy. This matter being determined, one of the sergeants went to Mr Lithgow and begged his money with liberty to search him, as it was needless to make any resistance. The prisoner quietly complied. When the sergeant, after rifling his pockets of eleven ducatoons, stripped him to his shirt and, searching his britches, he found enclosed in the waistband two canvas bags containing one hundred and thirty-seven pieces of gold. The sergeant immediately took the money to the corregidor who, after having told it over, ordered him to clothe the prisoner and shut him up close till after supper.
Speaker 1:About midnight, the sergeant and two Turkish slaves released Mr Lithgow from his then-confinement, but it was to introduce him to one much more horrible. They conducted him through several passages to a chamber in a remote part of the palace, towards the garden, where they loaded him with irons and extended his legs by means of an iron bar above a yard long, the weight of which was so great that he could neither stand nor sit but was obliged to lie continually on his back. They left him in this condition for some time when they returned with a refreshment of food consisting of a pound of boiled mutton and a loaf, together with a small quantity of wine, which was not only the first but the best and last of the kind during his confinement in this place. After delivering these articles, the sergeant locked the door and left Mr Lithgow to his own private contemplations. The next day he received a visit from the governor, who promised him his liberty with many other advantages if he would confess being a spy. But on his protesting that he was entirely innocent, the governor left him in a rage, saying he should see him no more. Him in a rage, saying he should see him no more. Still further torments constrained him to confess, commanding the keeper to whose care he was committed that he should permit no person whatever to have access to or commune with him. That his substance should not exceed three ounces of musty bread and a pint of water every second day, that he shall be allowed neither bed-pillow nor coverlet. Close up, said he, this window in his room with lime and stone. Stop up the holes of the door with double mats. Let him have nothing that bears any likeness to comfort. These and several other orders of the like severity were given to render it impossible for his condition to be known to those of the English nation.
Speaker 1:In this wretched and melancholy state did poor Lithgow continue without seeing any person for several days, in which time the governor received an answer to a letter he had written relative to the prisoner from Madrid and, pursuant to the instructions given him, began to put in practice the cruelties devised, which they hastened because Christmas holy days approached, it being then the forty-seventh day since his imprisonment. About two o'clock in the morning he heard the noise of a coach in the street and some time after heard the opening of the prison doors. Not having had any sleep for two nights, hunger, pain and melancholy reflections having prevented him from taking any repose, soon after the prison doors were opened, the nine sergeants who had first seized him entered the place where he lay and, without uttering a word, conducted him and his irons through the house, into the street where the coach waited and into which they laid him at the bottom on his back, not being able to sit. Two of the sergeants rode with him and the rest walked by the coach side, but all observed the most profound silence. They took him to a wine-press house about a league from town, to which place a rack had been privately conveyed before, and here they shut him up for that night.
Speaker 1:At daybreak the next morning arrived the governor in the Alcalade, in whose presence Mr Lithgow was immediately brought to undergo another examination. The prisoner desired he might have an interpreter, which was allowed to strangers by the laws of that country, but this was refused. Nor would they permit him to appeal to Madrid the superior court of judicature. After a long examination, which lasted from morning till night, there appeared in all his answers so exact a conformity with what he had before said that they declared he had learned them by heart, their not being the least prevarication. They, however, however, pressed him again to make a full discovery, that is, to accuse himself of crimes never committed. The governor ordered the notary to draw up a warrant for delivering him to the Al-Qaeda to be tortured.
Speaker 1:Let's see how much time. Yeah, this last part gives you an idea of why our founders wanted to make sure that we could testify ourselves, that we couldn't condemn ourselves. Right, because if you can torture somebody into condemning themselves, that's all you have to do. All right, so we'll pick up with Mr Lithgow again tomorrow. It doesn't look real good, I guess. In Fox's Book of the Martyrs. You pretty much know the ending, though, so we'll see how it gets there.
Speaker 1:We're going to go into History of the Rise, progress and Termination of the American Revolution by Mercy Otis Warren. This is the beginning of Chapter 5. Beginning of chapter 5. The speculatist and the philosopher frequently observe a casual subordination of circumstances, independent of political decision, which fixes the character and manners of nations. This thought may be piously improved till it leads the mind to view those casualties directed by a secret hand which points the revolutions of time and decides the fate of empires. The occasional instruments for the completion of the grand system of providence have seldom any other stimulus but the bubble of fame, the lust of wealth or some contemptible passion that centers in self. Even the bosom of virtue warms by higher principles, and the man, actuated by nobler motives, walks in a narrow sphere of comprehension. The scale by which the ideas of mortals are circumscribed generally limits his wishes to a certain point, without consideration or a just calculation of extensive consequences.
Speaker 1:Thus, while the King of Great Britain was contending with the colonies for a three-penny booty on tea and the Americans, with the bold spirit of patriotism, resisting an encroachment on their rights, the one thought they only asked a moderate and reasonable indulgence from their sovereign, which they had a right to demand if withheld. On the other side, the most severe and strong measures were adopted and exercised toward the colonies, which Parliament considered as only the proper and necessary chastisement of rebellious subjects. Thus, on the eve of one of the most remarkable revolutions recorded in the pages of history, a revolution which Great Britain precipitated by her indiscretion and which the hardiest sons of America viewed, in the beginning of opposition, as a work reserved for the enterprising hand of posterity, few on either side comprehended the magnitude of the contest, and fewer still had the courage to name the independence of the American colonies as the ultimatum of their designs. After the spirits of men had been wrought up to a high tone of resentment by repeated injuries on the one hand and an open resistance on the other, there was little reason to expect a ready compliance with regulations repugnant to the feelings, the principles and the interests of Americans. The Parliament of Britain therefore thought it expedient to enforce obedience by the sword and determined to send out an armament sufficient for the purpose early in the spring of 1774. The subjugation of the colonies by arms was yet considered in England by some as a work of such facility that four or five regiments with a few ships of the line were equal to the business, provided they were commanded by officers who had not sagacity enough to judge the impropriety of the measures of administration, nor humanity to feel for the miseries of the people. Or liberality to endeavor to mitigate the rigors of government. Or liberality to endeavor to mitigate the rigors of government. In consequence of this opinion, admiral Montague was recalled from Boston and Admiral Graves appointed to succeed, whose character was known to be more avaricious, severe and vigilant than his predecessor and, in all respects, a more fit instrument to execute the weak, indigested and irritating system.
Speaker 1:General Gage unhappily for himself, as will appear in the sequel, was selected as a proper person to take the command of all His Majesty's forces in North America and reduce the country to submission. He had married a lady of respectable connections in New York and had held, with considerable reputation, for several years, a military employment in the colonies. He was, at this time, appointed governor and commander-in-chief of the province of Massachusetts Bay, directed to repair immediately there and, on his arrival, to remove the seat of government from Boston and to convene the General Assembly to meet at Salem, a smaller town situated about twenty miles from the capital. 20 miles from the capital, the governor, lieutenant governor, the secretary, the board of commissioners and all crown officers were ordered by special mandate to leave Boston and make the town of Salem the place of their future residence.
Speaker 1:A few days before the annual election for May 1774, the new governor of Massachusetts arrived. He was received by the inhabitants of Boston with the same respect that had been usually shown to those who were dignified by the title of the king's representative. An elegant entertainment was provided at Faneuil Hall, to which he was escorted by a company of cadets and attended with great civility by the magistrates and principal gentlemen of the town. And though jealously, disgust and resentment burnt in the bosom of one party, the most unwarrantable designs occupied the thoughts of the other. Yet the appearance of politeness and good humor was kept up through the etiquette of the day. The week following was the anniversary of the general election agreeable to charter. The day was ushered in with the usual parade and the House of Representatives proceeded to business in the common form.
Speaker 1:But a specimen of the measures to be expected from the new administration appeared in the first act of authority recorded of Governor Gage. A list of counselors was presented for his appropriation, for which he erased the names of thirteen gentlemen out of the twenty-eight unanimously chosen by the free voice of the representatives of the people, leaving only a quorum as established by charter. Or it was apprehended in the exercise of his new prerogative, he might have annihilated the whole. Most of the gentlemen on the negative list have been distinguished for their attachment to the ancient Constitution and their decided opposition to the present ministerial measures. Opposition to the present ministerial measures. Among them was James Bowden Esquire, whose understanding, discernment and conscientious deportment rendered him a very unfit instrument for the view of the court at this extraordinary period.
Speaker 1:John Winthrop, a Lesian professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Cambridge. His public conduct was but the emanation of superior genius, united with an excellent heart, as much distinguished for every private virtue as for his attachment to the liberties of a country that may glory in giving birth to a man of exalted character. Dr Winthrop was lineally descended from the first governor of Massachusetts and inherited the virtues and talents of his great ancestor, too well known to need any encomium Colonel Otis of Barnstable, whose name has been already mentioned, and John Adamsams, a barrister at law of rising abilities. His appearance on the theatre of politics commenced at this period. We shall meet him again in still more dignified stations. Gentleman had been undoubtedly pointed out as obnoxious to administration by the predecessor of Governor Gage, as he had not been long enough in the Providence to discriminate characters.
Speaker 1:The House of Representatives did not think proper to replace the members of Council by a new choice. They silently bore this indiscreet exercise of authority Sensible. It was but a prelude to the impending storm. The assembly was, the next day, adjourned for a week. At the expiration of that time, they were directed to meet at Salem. In the interim, the governor removed himself and the whole band of revenue and crown officers deserted the town of Boston at once as a place devoted to destruction. All right, we'll pick up there again on the next time. God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages If you're married. God bless America. 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 folks, we'll talk to y'all again real soon, looking forward to it.