The American Soul
The American Soul
Returning to First Principles: A Nation at the Crossroads
What happens when we start picking and choosing which parts of the Bible still apply today? Jesse Cope tackles this challenging question head-on, examining how modern Christians often dismiss uncomfortable scriptures as "culturally outdated" while clinging to others.
At the heart of this episode lies an urgent call to authentic faith—one that prioritizes daily time with God and measures itself against Christ's perfect standard rather than other flawed humans. Jesse vulnerably shares his own imperfections, hoping listeners might avoid similar mistakes in their spiritual journeys.
The declining interest in marriage among young men takes center stage as Jesse unpacks how this predictable trend stems from fundamental shifts in how society views marital roles and responsibilities. Drawing from Proverbs, Corinthians, Ephesians, and other passages, he highlights biblical teachings on marriage that rarely receive clear exposition in modern churches. This discussion opens a window into the broader issue of selective scripture application that weakens our moral foundation.
Moving through history, Jesse honors Medal of Honor recipients whose sacrifices exemplify the biblical principle that leaders must serve and sacrifice for others. These powerful stories transition into explorations of early American documents, including state constitutions that explicitly required Christian leadership—a historical reality often overlooked in contemporary discussions about religion's role in government.
The episode weaves together spiritual guidance, historical insight, and cultural analysis, ultimately challenging listeners to embrace biblical truth wholly rather than selectively. "Work as hard as you can, for as long as you can, to save as many as you can until God calls you home" emerges as a rallying cry for believers navigating increasingly hostile cultural waters.
Whether you're wrestling with questions about scripture's relevance, concerned about America's spiritual direction, or simply seeking to deepen your faith, this episode provides thought-provoking perspectives grounded in both biblical wisdom and historical understanding. Subscribe now to join a growing community committed to exploring how timeless truth applies to today's challenges.
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 attention, a little piece of your day. We'll try and use it wisely. Hopefully it'll give us all some extra tools for our toolbox and hopefully it will help draw us all a little closer to God and Jesus Christ, both as individuals and as a nation. For those of y'all that continue to share the podcast with others and 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 extremely grateful for your prayers. Need them, definitely need them, father. Thank you for today. Thank you for you, father, and your Son Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love, your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness of sins. Thank you for your love, your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness of sins. Thank you for all your many blessings, the ones we admit, father, the ones we know. Forgive us our greed, our pride, our selfishness, lust, judgment of others, gossip, slander, hypocrisy, for not forgiving others as you have forgiven us. Help us to do your will each day, father. Help us to follow the commands of your Son, jesus Christ, to love you with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, to love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to show others just a little bit of your Son that might draw them closer to him and to you. Be with those who are listening to the podcast. Please Thank you for them. Thank you for this time to record the podcast. Be with their families. Bless the marriages of those who are married God, those who have children and raising them to know you and your Son, jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:As a nation Father here in America and those nations around the world where people are listening, please help us to elect men who ruled in fear of you. Help us to turn back to you, to repent of our sins In America in particular. To repent of our sins in America in particular, to repent of supporting abortion, feminism, separation of God and state, lgbtq lifestyles and every other kind of sexual deviancy, no-fault divorce. Help us, help us to repent of supporting evil, father, and to turn back to you and your Son, jesus Christ, truly in action and not just words. Be with our firefighters, military, our police, law enforcement, ems, and please be with the families of those who have lost children around the nation and around the world. And be with those, father, our brothers and sisters in Christ, please, who are suffering for the sake of your son Jesus Christ, whether they're in China or North Korea or Nigeria or Syria or anywhere else, even in our own nation. Help us to care for them as much as we can, with whatever talents and abilities you've given us, and to fight against the evil that persecutes them and oppresses them. And please, god, my words here. Father, 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 talk to him, to listen to him? Are you striving to walk with God and Jesus Christ to follow you know Christ is real clear. He tells us explicitly that if we really love him, we follow his commands. So if we claim that we love him, if we really are trying to love him, then we have to try to follow his commands. Are we going to do it perfectly?
Speaker 1:No, I used to say that often on the podcast. I've said it a little more of late again. Folks, I'm not even remotely perfect. One of the reasons that I do this podcast is because of all the different things mistakes, bad decisions, sins in my life and I hope that maybe, just maybe, I help you all avoid some of the idiocy that I have done in my life. I am, again, not even remotely perfect, but I can point you to the only single human being throughout all of history, that is. It's not John the Baptist, it's not Mary, it's not Joseph, it's not the 12 disciples, it's not the thief on the cross. The thief on the cross is actually a great example for us to look to, along with the tax collector that beat his breast, you know, and said forgive me, god, have mercy on me, a sinner Some translations say the sinner like the worst of sinners.
Speaker 1:That's a lot closer to what we are folks. That whole Micah 6.8 act justly, love, mercy, walk humbly before God. That humble part, I know I forget that often, even with all the mistakes I've made isn't that funny. I forget to be humble. But are we really trying to follow Christ, striving to each day? He's the only example out there worth striving for, because his is perfect and that always ought to be our goal, not looking at other people and comparing ourselves to them, comparing our marriage to other marriage, comparing our local school to other schools, our local church to other churches, our local community to other communities, our state to other states. Our comparison always ought to be Christ, and therefore we're always going to come up short, and so there ought to be something that we're always striving toward Doesn't mean don't be grateful for the achievements that you've had, that God's given you Absolutely, but also we have a responsibility to continue striving toward Him, right. And then marriage if you're married, does your spouse know it? Do you act like it? To continue striving toward him, right? And then marriage if you're married, does your spouse know it? Do you act like it?
Speaker 1:That article we went through on the podcast recently out of the epic times, talking about marriage and why so many young men aren't looking at marriage. It's funny because I come across that so often on social media and and this sounds arrogant folks, I don't mean it to be at all, but I've known this was coming for years and years. Anybody with a brain that was honest, that really wanted to seek the truth, has known that this has been coming for a long time. They have known that there was going to be a time when men were going to look up and say, you know what, I'm not interested, I don't want to be married. Why? Well, think about it from this point of view.
Speaker 1:If you had a friend of yours, a really good friend, and they were in a business partnership with somebody and they were putting all the work, in all the effort and doing everything that they could to fulfill their roles and responsibilities as that business partner, whatever that was for them but their partner wasn't even remotely putting in their full effort, they weren't reciprocating at all, they weren't thriving at all. Really, you know, if you've ever been a teacher or coach, you know those kids that they'll tell you I'm doing everything I can. And as a coach and a teacher, often part of your job is to show these kids that they're really not, because a lot of these kids they don't really know how to really study, for example, academically or what the differences between being injured or being in pain and sports. Right, they don't realize how much farther and this is true of all of us, right we don't realize how much farther we can really go physically or academically, studying wise, than our mind tells us. Our mind always tries to tell us. Oh, you can't do that, that's too hard, right.
Speaker 1:So there's a lot of people out there go back to the business analogy and this partner's not putting anything in, even if they're claiming to really they're giving a little bit of effort, they might reciprocate every once in a while, but they're definitely not holding up their end of the bargain. Well then, let's say that another, that business partner in particular this will make the analogy a little bit easier that your friend, that their business dissolves and that business partner comes to you and says, hey, I'd like to go into business with you, and your friend warns, you, say don't do it, it's a bad idea. And you've seen the heartache and the pain and the failure. And so you look at this person that wants to be your business partner and you're like no, thanks, I'm good, I got it, I don't. There's nothing that you're offering me that I can't do on my own and do safer and better. And you know that that makes you. Your business isn't going to be as successful as it could be, because in order to be a super successful business in this analogy, you have to have a partner, and that's what's been going on in marriage.
Speaker 1:Sadly, inside the church you have two sides of the coin. And when we compliment each other, men and women together, we make each of us so much better, so much better, but when we don't, we make each other less than what we should be, less than what we could be, and men have just simply looked around and they've gone. You know what? The vast majority of marriages that I see, the woman does not respect her husband each day. She certainly does not submit to him in everything, whether you're talking about dress or car purchases, or number of children, or where they live, or what she does. You know, et cetera, et cetera. That's definitely not true. You get all this.
Speaker 1:I saw somebody just within the last couple of days post this on X. They were talking about the watered down teaching, scriptural teaching in the church, and one of them, talking about marriage, was this mutual submission stuff. Right, and while there's some truth to that, you certainly serve each other the way Christ served, this idea that you have mutual submission in a marriage. It's just nonsense. And all you have to do is look at a car. You can't have two steering wheels in a car, you've got to have one. There has to be one person steering, and CS Lewis does a great job breaking this down.
Speaker 1:In Mere Christianity, the idea of the woman being behind the wheel, it just historically, it doesn't make any sense. Even the women that get that, even the women that control their households, lewis says they're half ashamed of it and they despise the men that they rule over Women, whether they're willing to admit it or not. They don't want the guy being submissive. Yet that's what they demand today in society. Anyway, I've gotten way off track, folks, but it's just. It's funny that people are just now kind of waking up to this, because you could have seen it coming if you were paying attention for a long time.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, the third part of that was respect submit to there's. There's definitely the idea of proverbs 5, 19 and 1 corinthians 7, 3 through 5, which are very clear about giving control of our body over to our spouse, not depriving each other, and for the woman, satisfying her husband at all times. Man, you want to get people fired up. You want to get women fired up inside the church? Just just preach on those two inside the church. Just preach on those two verses alone, much less Titus 2 and Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3. And that's what this poster, who happened to be a woman actually was talking about. She said you know, in all these years of going to church, never have I heard a sermon directed toward women, specifically on their roles and responsibilities, that wasn't watered down and kind of hem-hawed about. All right, 1 Corinthians, where are we? I think? I remember I think we just went through 13, right, yes, chapter on love. So we're going to go to 1 Corinthians 14.
Speaker 1:Prophecy the superior gift. Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts. But especially that you may prophesy, for one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. Now, I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. And greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Speaker 1:But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge, or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things either flute or harp in producing a sound. If they do not produce a distinction in the tones. How will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you.
Speaker 1:Unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are perhaps a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts.
Speaker 1:Seek to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore, let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret, for if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also. I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise, if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying, for you are giving thanks, well enough, but the other person is not edified. I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all. However, in the church, I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Speaker 1:Instruction for the Church. Brethren, do not be children in your thinking Words in a Tongue, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers, but prophecy is for a sign not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all. The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. What is the outcome then, brethren, when you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Speaker 1:If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak and let the others pass judgment, but if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy, one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets, for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. The women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak but are to subject themselves, just as the law also says, if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
Speaker 1:Was it from you that the word of God first went forth, or has it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and do not forbid to speak in tongues, but all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. Properly and in an orderly manner, I think that verse 40, but all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. And then verse 33, for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Speaker 1:I have experienced this a few times in my life, even when I haven't really been willing to experience it. I think my father explained this to me once recently, actually pretty well, and that is, if you feel confusion, if you feel like you don't know exactly what God wants you to do and you're praying about it and you're reading the Bible and you're talking to people that you respect, elders that you respect, there's a pretty good chance that God is telling you just to sit tight and you know I'm sure a lot of y'all know, especially some of y'all that deal with anxiety, that really get uptight and confused and scared what's coming. I think a lot of times, really, it's not any more complicated than God just wanting us to truly rely on him and relax and sit back and take in his peace. And for me at least, folks, one of the problems that I struggle with is getting too worried about the things of this world and I get caught up in. You know, how are my kids doing? How is my wife doing? Where's the money coming in? Not in a spiritual, emotional sense, but are they making good enough grades? Are they doing good enough in athletics? Are they doing good enough here? What's going on here? What about this truck or this car or the roof? How are my parents doing? You know what is the truth. And again, there's nothing wrong with being concerned about this stuff, folks, but it's when we allow those concerns to take over and we start to get kind of chaotic and our peace goes away. You know God? Again, god is not a God of confusion, but of peace, a God of order. Right, all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. We don't have anything to offer to the world, to the lost, if we're just as confused and crazy as everybody else out there in the world.
Speaker 1:And then this verse 34 and 35, the women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak but are to subject themselves. Just as the law also says If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. That's going to light a lot of women up and there's going to be a lot of people, both men and women, that tell you well, that was written 2000 years ago. Times have changed. We have to take it in context of society, folks. That's just A, it's not true. And B, it doesn't even make any sense. Because if we look at the context of society today which it was the same in the Roman Empire, but if we look at the context of today, the majority of people in the United States, by their own actions, do not believe that Jesus Christ is the risen son of God, fully man and fully God. They just simply don't.
Speaker 1:So does that mean that we ought to take that scripture that clearly shows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and say well, that's obviously that was written for a different culture 2,000 years ago and we don't need to believe that today, and you can make the argument. Here's the other argument there's a large percentage of men who refuse to acknowledge that their role in marriage is to love and nourish and cherish their wife. So you know, a big chunk of society says that's not true. So should we throw that out too? Was that a different culture 2,000 years ago that Paul was speaking to? And today we've evolved and we're more mature and more intelligent than they were and we realize how backwards that was. What about the whole loving your neighbor thing? I mean, that definitely is not popular today. Paul, obviously, peter, all of the apostles? They were dealing with a different culture and we really need to throw that one out. Love your enemies, love your neighbors as yourself. That's not culturally relevant today. You see where I'm getting at folks.
Speaker 1:If we're going to start to pick and choose which verses we adhere to and which we don't, which ones we can throw out and which ones we need to keep, then we've got a problem. Now we may not understand all the verses in the Bible. We won't, and we shouldn't claim to, because we're not God. But there's a difference between not understanding something and trying to pretend that it doesn't apply anymore. Right, you can say, look, I don't really get this, I don't understand it. There's some parts of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, that I read through and I'm like man, that's just tough. I really don't get that, I don't understand it. I don't know how to implement it. Maybe somebody else does, but I don't. You know, and you can talk to God about that. That's a huge, hugely different point of view or stance than. Oh man, I know this verse is bad. He was definitely. He definitely didn't mean this, you know, because one of the things the Bible tells us, one of the reasons that we're in so much trouble, for example, in education and our nation, is because we took away the only unchanging standard there is, which is the Bible. That's the whole point is, it doesn't change Right. All right, medal of Honor winners. Let's see who we've got today.
Speaker 1:Louis A Bossel. Louis Kenneth Bossel, corporal World War II, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, us Marine Corps. September 15, 1944, peleliu Island, palu Group. September 1944, peleliu Island, palu Group.
Speaker 1:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, bearing action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, palu Group, 15 September 1944. Valiantly placing himself at the head of his squad, corporal Bossel led the charge forward against a hostile pillbox which was covering a vital sector of the beach and, as the first to reach the encampment, immediately started firing his automatic into the aperture. While the remainder of his men closed in on the enemy, swift to act as a Japanese grenade was hurled into their midst. Corporal Bossel threw himself on the deadly weapon, taking the full blast of the explosion and sacrificing his own life to save his men. His unwavering loyalty and inspiring courage reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Bossel in the US Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Accredited to Washington District of Columbia, awarded posthumously. Born April 17, 1924, pulaski, montgomery County, virginia, died September 18, 1944, hospital ship at sea Pacific Ocean. Buried at sea ABMC Manila Cemetery Wall of the Missing Manila Philippine Islands.
Speaker 1:I can't help read this, folks, and not not give the warning again that we have some really tough times coming, like these men suffered through, like their wives and mothers and sisters suffered through and daughters. We have some really tough times coming and we need to get our head wrapped around it. It's all the more reason to focus on God and realize that our job here, folks, is not for our own personal satisfaction or gain or anything, but serving God. It's save as many as you can for as long as you can. Work as hard as you can for as long as you can to save as many as you can until God calls you back home. That's the job, that's the task, and particularly for men, as leaders.
Speaker 1:Folks, what did leaders do? What did Christ do? He sacrificed, he sacrificed, he served. What are we willing to sacrifice, what are we willing to give up in order to protect our wives and our children, to protect the widow and the orphan, the poor and the needy, to make sure that liberty is still here for our children and our grandchildren? Folks, we're going to go home one day and, lord, I can't recommend enough that you choose Christ now, today, to make sure, folks, that you know, despite all your failings, that because of Jesus Christ, because of his blood, you're going to get to heaven one day and God's going to say well done, good and faithful servant. Because of Jesus Christ, he's going to welcome you in, he's going to give you that mansion, he's going to give you that eternal life, that joy, that peace where there's no more tears, no more sorrow, no more sadness. Our job is to do our job here and whenever he calls his home. That's great Work, as hard as you can, for as long as you can, to save as many as you can. That's what we need to do folks. Maybe one more, let me see how much time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, philip babette. Private us civil war alpha company. Second massachusetts cavalry, us army. Second Massachusetts Cavalry US Army. September 24, 1864, luray, virginia, capture of flag. Accredited to Fall River, bristol County, massachusetts, not awarded.
Speaker 1:Posthumously Presented October 14, 1864, born 1844, manchester, england. Died April 17, 1907, manchester, england. Buried at Southern Cemetery, manchester, england. Isn't that interesting that he came over and served in the Civil War and then went back and lived again in Manchester, england. That's pretty fascinating, right there. Philip Baybutt, I wonder if he was ever an American citizen or if he was always a citizen of England. Some of you history buffs might know that Came over and served. I know there were some from Europe that came over and served in the Civil War. I guess it makes sense that after the war they would go back home. That's pretty cool, though. A Medal of Honor winner Alright. So just a couple names there again Philip Baybutt and Louis K Bossel.
Speaker 1:We're going to read now for a few minutes we can get back into, if I can get back into it, our sermon from Ezra Stiles Pick Up when we Left Off. Our trade opens to all the world. We shall doubtless at first overtrade ourselves everywhere and be in danger of incurring heavy mortgages unless prevented. The nations will not at first know how far they may safely trade with us. But commerce will find out its own system and regulate itself in time. It will be governed, on the part of America, by the cheapest foreign markets, on the part of Europe by our ability and punctuality of remittance. We can soon make a remittance of three or four million a year in a circuitous trade exclusive of the iniquitous African trade. If Europe should indulge us beyond this, our failures and disappointments might lay the foundation of national animosities.
Speaker 1:Great wisdom is therefore necessary to regulate the commerce of America. The caution with which we are to be treated may occasion and originate a commercial system among the maritime nations On both sides of the Atlantic, founded injustice and reciprocity of interests, which will establish the benevolence as well as the opulence of nations and advance the progress of society to civil perfection. It is certain, for the benefit of every community, that it be transfused with the effacious motives of universal industry. This will take place if everyone can enjoy the fruits of his labor and activity unmolested. That's a heck of a sentence, right there, folks. We definitely do not have that today. If everyone can enjoy the fruits of his labor and activity unmolested, you can't take from those who earn to pretend that benevolence by giving to those who don't through the government and assume that people will continue to strive to work hard. That makes zero sense. Welfare state, illegal immigration right there, all the variety of labor in a well-regulated state will be so ordered and encouraged as that all will be employed in a just proportion in agriculture, mechanic, arts, commerce and the literary professions.
Speaker 1:It has been a question whether agriculture or commerce needs most encouragement in these states, but the motives for both seem abundantly sufficient. Never did they operate more strongly than at present. The whole continent is activity and in the lively, vigorous exertion of industry Several other things call for encouragement, as the planting of vineyards and olive yards and cotton walks and raising of wool, planting mulberry trees and the culture of silk, and, I add, establishing manufactories. This last is necessary, very necessary, far more necessary indeed than is thought by many deep politicians. Let us have all the means possible of sustenance and elegance among ourselves if we would be a flourishing republic of real, independent dignity and glory. That's pretty familiar to today folks.
Speaker 1:We need the ability to manufacture our own stuff instead of going to China or Vietnam or Mexico or somewhere else. We need that capability not just for big things like military hardware, but just clothing. We need to be teaching our own children to be artists, authors. We definitely do not need our colleges, our best colleges, educating and strengthening other nations more than they are our own children. You know, again we get back to this whole discussion about like our Ivy Leagues. It's not that we don't have smart enough kids here in the United States who work hard enough. It's we've destroyed our own public education system. But we need to be educating our own, pushing our own way, more than anybody from anywhere else. Our colleges ought to be almost overwhelmingly American students before any other nation even gets a foot in the door. If your college is up to 10%, I would argue that ought to be about the limit and you can argue that it's probably already too much. We need to be pushing our own students, teaching them in everything, folks, from literature to art, to manufacture, to agriculture, across the board, and we need those capabilities internal, across the board. And we need those capabilities internal Stiles, this sermon that he's given before the Connecticut General Assembly and the commander-in-chief there. We could use this again. All right, we'll leave it there for today and we'll move on.
Speaker 1:One little quick thing here, folks. This is out of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780, and it's the Chapter 2, executive Power, section 1, about the governor, article 1. Article 2 of the commonwealth for seven years, next proceeding, and unless he shall at the same time be seized in his own right of a freehold within the commonwealth of the value of 1,000 pounds, and unless he shall declare himself to be of the Christian religion. I mention this because there's a couple Muslims that are having some success running for in New York and maybe Milwaukee. I think we've talked about it on a previous podcast. But folks, don't ever let anybody tell you that we didn't have a requirement at the beginning of this nation for our leaders to be Christian In our state constitutions. We did, and we can't function without leaders who are Christian. We can't function without a people who are Christian. If that's not the overwhelming majority of people in America, america won't function. Liberty will absolutely cease to exist, and there was a requirement across a number of the majority, the vast majority of the colonies, in the state constitutions, for any leaders chosen in that state to be Christian. Some of them, specifically of the Protestant denomination had. For any leaders chosen in that state to be Christian, some of them, specifically of the Protestant denomination had to be a requirement, and at least one of them I can think of right now I can't I don't know how many, but multiple that were Christian, the majority of them. And that's how it should be today. And that's how it should be today. That's how it should be today.
Speaker 1:We're going to get back into Fox's Book of the Martyrs. We're in the account of the persecutions in Venice. Francis Spinola, a Protestant gentleman of very great learning, being apprehended by the order of the inquisitors, was carried before their tribunal. A treatise on the Lord's Supper was then put into his hands and he asked if he knew the author of it, to which he replied. I confess myself to be the author of it and, at the same time, solemnly affirm that there is not a line in it but what is authorized by and consistent to the Holy Scriptures.
Speaker 1:On this confession, he was committed, close prisoner to a dungeon for several days, being brought to a second examination. He charged the popes, the legate and the inquisitors. Examination he charged the popes, the legate and the inquisitors with being merciless barbarians and then represented the superstitions and idolatries practiced by the Church of Rome in so glaring a light that, not being able to refute his arguments, they sent him back to his dungeon to make him repent of what he had said. On the third examination, they asked him if he would recant his errors, to which he answered that the doctrines he maintained were not erroneous, being purely the same as those which Christ and his apostles had taught and which were handed down to us in the sacred writings. The inquisitors then sentenced him to be drowned, which was executed in the manner already described.
Speaker 1:He went to meet death with the most utmost serenity, seemed to wish for dissolution and declaring that the prolongation of his life did but tend to retard that real happiness which could only be expected in the world to come. Again, you see here that the problem that the Catholics had wasn't that this man was following Scripture, it's that he refused to bow to the Roman Catholic Church, not Christ, not God, but the Catholic Church in Rome. And then this is an interesting little point down here, I think, folks, you know there's a Scripture that we just posted recently, if I can find it Jesus Christ talking, and he was saying to them if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me, for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. Excuse me, it's not exactly the verse I was looking for. I was really looking for the one that said if you, if you really you can't follow me if you don't hate your own life, your mother, your brother, your sister. I think a lot of people have a hard time dealing with that, a lot of non-Christians especially. But the point is, folks, that we've got to choose Christ and God above all else, and it should make you long for heaven to a certain degree. No matter how good your life is on this earth, it's not going to be anywhere as good as heaven, and so that really ought to make us long for that. As you see this gentleman, francis Spinola, here. He said he went to meet his death with the utmost serenity. He said he went to meet his death with the utmost serenity, seemed to wish for dissolution and declaring that the prolongation of his life did but tend to retard that real happiness which could only be expected in the world to come. No-transcript.
Speaker 1:John Mollius was born at Rome of reputable parents. At twelve years of age they placed him in a monastery at Grey Friars where he made such rapid progress in arts, sciences and languages that at eighteen years of age he was permitted to take priest's orders. He was then sent to Ferrara where, after pursuing his studies six years longer, he was made theological reader at the university of that city. He now unhappily exerted his great talents to disguise the gospel truths and to varnish over the errors of the Church of Rome. After some years in residence at Ferrara, he removed to the University of Benonia, where he became a professor. Having read some treatises written by ministers of the Reformed religion, he grew fully sensible of the errors of potpourri and soon became a zealous Protestant in his heart. He now determined to expound, accordingly to the purity of the gospel, st Paul's epistle to the Romans in a regular course of sermons. The concourse of people that continually attended his preaching was surprising, but when the priests found the tenor of his doctrines, they dispatched an account of the affair to Rome, when the Pope sent a monk named Cornelius to Benonia to expound the same epistle according to the tenets of the Church of Rome. The people, however, found such a disparity between the two preachers that the audience of Molius increased and Cornelius was forced to preach to empty benches. I think we'll come back and check on Molius and Cornelius On the next one and we'll move on for today.
Speaker 1:So, ms Warren, on the history of the rise, progress and termination of the American Revolution. The business required talents and energies to make arrangements for exigencies new and untried. Fortunately, elbridge Jerry Esquire was placed at the head of this commission, who executed it with his usual punctuality and indefatigable industry. This gentleman entered from principle early in the opposition to British encroachments and continued one of the most uniform Republicans. To the end of the contest, he was next year chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress Firm. Exact, perspicuous and tenacious of public and private honor, he rendered essential service to the union for many years that he continued a member of that honorable body. Mr gary's services and exertions to promote the public interest through every important station which he filled, from this period until he was appointed to negotiate with the Republic of France in the year of 1798, were uniform there. His indefatigable zeal, his penetration, his cool perseverance when everything appeared on the eve of rupture between the two republics laid the foundation and formed the outlines of an accommodation which soon after terminated in an amicable treaty between France and the United States of America.
Speaker 1:The Provincial Congress appointed a Committee of Safety consisting of nine members and vested them with powers to act as they should see fit for the public service In the recess and to call them together again on any extraordinary emergency. And before they separated, they chose a new set of delegates to meet in General Congress. The ensuing spring. After this, they held a conference with the committees of donation and correspondence and the select men of the town of Boston on the expediency of an effort to remove the inhabitants from a town blockaded on all sides. They then separated for a few weeks to exert their influence and aid to the resolutions of the people, to strengthen their fortitude and to prepare them for the approaching storm which, they were sensible, could not be or could be at no great distance.
Speaker 1:Two things out of these couple paragraphs, folks. One as we get into this approaching storm, we need to make sure that we find people that have been resolute for more than just a brief period. That's not to say that people can't have their eyes opened, and you hope that we have to pray that more and more people do. But when we're looking for leadership in the pulpit or in the state, we need to find people who have stuck to principles over party or men continually, and a lot of times they're pretty easy to spot, because that means at multiple points throughout their career, a lot of people haven't liked them very much Because they refused to bow to party or person or denomination. Those are the men that you want leading, the ones that stick to principles. I wish I could remember Davy Crockett's quote right now, but it was something along those lines. I have always tried to cling to ideas and principles instead of man or party or denomination, and that's what we need, or denomination, and that's what we need. We need people that stick to Christ and stick to his general principles that founded this nation.
Speaker 1:And then the other thing here, of course, is this prepare for the approaching storm. There's a storm coming, folks. There's no possible way to see the increase in leftism and Islam inside the United States and think that it's going to remain peaceful continually. It seems hard to think that that storm is a long way off, and so whatever you can do to encourage strengthening of defenses and communication and shoring up in your area with whoever you talk to. We need to be doing that. You read this sentence again. Then they separated for a few weeks to exert their influence and aid to the resolutions of the people to strengthen their fortitude. Aid to the resolutions of the people to strengthen their fortitude and to prepare them for the approaching storm which, they were sensible, could be at no great distance.
Speaker 1:Though the inhabitants of Boston were shut up in garrison, insulated by the troops and in many respects felt the evils of a severe military government. Yet the difficulty of removing thousands from their residence in the capital to seek an asylum in the country on the eve of winter appeared fraught with inconveniences too great to be attempted. They were, of consequence, the most of them obliged to continue amid the outrages of a licentious army and wait patiently the events of the ensuing spring. The principal inhabitants of the town, though more immediately under the eye of their oppressors, lost no part of their determined spirit, but still acted in unison with their friends, more at liberty without the city. A bold instance of this appeared when Mr Oliver, the Chief Justice, regardless of the impeachment that lay against him, attempted, with his associates to open the Superior Court. Oliver, the Chief Justice, regardless of the impeachment that lay against him, attempted, with his associates, to open the Superior Court and transact business according to the new regulations. Advertisements were posted in several public places forbidding on their peril the attorneys and barristers at law to carry any cause up to the bar. Both the grand and pettit jurors refused attendance and finally the court was obliged to adjourn without delay.
Speaker 1:These circumstances greatly alarmed the party, more, especially those natives of the country who had taken sanctuary under the banners of an officer who had orders to enforce the acts of administration. Even at the point of the bayonet Apprehensive, they might be dragged from their asylum within the gates. They were continually urging General Gage to more vigorous measures, without they assured him that it would be easy for him to execute the designs of government, provided he would by law marshal, seize, try or transport to England such persons as were most particularly obnoxious, and that if the people once saw him thus determined they would sacrifice their leaders and submit quietly. They associated and bound themselves by covenant to go all lengths in support of the projects of administration against their country. But the general assured of reinforcements in the spring, sufficient to enable him to open a bloody campaign and not remarkable for resolution or activity, had not the courage, and perhaps not the inclination, to try the dangerous experiment until he felt himself stronger. He was also sensible of the striking similarity of genius, manners and conduct of the colonies and union. It was observable to everyone that local prejudices, either in religion or government, taste or politics, were suspended and that every distinction was sunk in the consideration of the necessity of connection and vigor in one general system of defense. He therefore proceeded no farther during the winter than publishing proclamations against Congresses, committees and conventions, styling all associations of the kind unlawful and treasonable combinations and forgetting all persons to pay the smallest regard to their recommendations, on penalty of His Majesty's severest displeasure. These feeble exertions only confirmed the people in their adherence to the modes pointed out by those to whom they had entrusted the safety of the Commonwealth, modes pointed out by those to whom they had entrusted the safety of the commonwealth.
Speaker 1:The only active movement of the season was that of a party commanded by Column Leslie, who departed from Castle William on the evening of Saturday February 27, 1775, on a secret expedition to Salem. The design was principally to seize a few cannon. On the ensuing morning, the people, apprised of his approach, drew up a bridge over which his troops were to pass Leslie, finding his passage would be disputed and, having no orders to proceed to, blows no-transcript. This incident discovered the determination of the Americans carefully to avoid everything that had the appearance of beginning hostilities on their part, an imputation that might have been attended with great inconvenience. Nor, indeed, were they prepared to precipitate a conflict, the consequences and the termination of which no human calculation could reach. This maneuver also discovered that the people of the country were not deficient in point of courage, but that they stood charged for a resistance that might smite the sceptered hand whenever it should be stretched forth to arrest by force the inheritance purchased by the blood of ancestors whose self-denying virtues had rivaled the admired heroes of antiquity.
Speaker 1:There's a lot in those last couple paragraphs of chapter 5 pray for peace, strive for peace, be ready for war. And just echoes the Marine Corps what we were told. And just echoes the Marine Corps what we were told. Basically, treat everybody kindly but have a plan to kill everyone. When you walked into a village, treat everyone with respect but have a plan to kill everyone. You see, because you didn't know and you see, here are our founders. They didn't want to start a war and they wanted to make sure that they didn't appear like they wanted to start a war, but they were also prepared to defend their liberties.
Speaker 1:And you go back to the comment about all the differences in regional tastes, politics, denomination, and yet they came together, it didn't matter. You go back to John Adams' comment about the fact that they unified around the general principles of Christ and of English liberty. That's the same thing that has to happen now, folks. God bless y'all. God bless your marriages, if you're married, god bless your families. God bless America. God bless your nation. Wherever you are around the world listening, we'll talk to y'all again real soon, folks, looking forward to it.