General Arnold plots his treasonous action with Major André. Washington said, “The providential train of circumstances which led to it
[the discovery of the plot] affords the most convincing proof that the liberties of America are the object of divine Protection.”
God gave birth to America to advance His liberty among
the nations. The Founders of this exceptional nation
acknowledged God’s hand and gave Him thanks for our
growth and success. We have advanced due to His goodness
and purposes, not our wisdom and abilities. If we reject
Him and fail to rely upon Him, this great experiment in
liberty will become like the ruins of Babel. Let us, there-
fore, follow the advice of the President of the Continental
Congress and famous Declaration signatory, John Hancock:
“Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord
of the Universe ... Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the
hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and
kingdoms of the earth as He pleases.” 16
Stephen McDowell is the co-founder and president of the
Providence Foundation (providencefoundation.com) and has
trained people from 100 countries to apply biblical truth in
all spheres of life. He has aided in starting Christian schools
and biblical worldview training centers. He has authored and
co-authored over 30 books, videos, and training courses.
Stephen’s books and writings have been translated into 18
languages and distributed to millions of people.
FOOTNOTES
1. George Bancroft, Memorial Address on the Life and Character of Abraham Lin-
coln, Delivered at the Request of Both Houses of the Congress of America, Before
Them in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 12th of February,
1866 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866), 3-4.
2. The Writings of George Washington (from the Original Manuscript Sources,
1745–1799. Edited by John C. Fitzpatrick. 39 volumes. Washington DC: U.S.
Government Printing Office, 1931), 12:343.
3. Washington to the president of Congress, October 13, 1780, The Writings of
Washington, 20:173.
4. Washington to William Heath, September 26, 1780, The Writings of Washing-
ton, 20:88-89.
5. Washington to the president of Congress, September 26, 1780, The Writings
of Washington, 20:92.
6. Washington to John Laurens, October 13, 1780, The Writings of Washington,
20:173.
7. The Writings of Washington, 20:95.
8. Journals of Congress, October 18, 1780, in Mark Beliles and Stephen
McDowell, America’s Providential History (Charlottesville: Vir.: Providence Foun-
dation, 1991), 165.
9. Treaty with Great Britain, American Historical Documents, 1000-1904, The
Harvard Classics (Danbury, Conn.: Grolier Enterprises Corp., 1910, 1987), 174.
10. Robert A Rutland, ed., The Papers of James Madison (University of Chicago
Press, 1962), 10:208.
11. Cleon Skousen, The Making of America, 5.
12. Albert Henry Smyth, editor, Writings of Benjamin Franklin (Macmillan Co.,
1905-07), 9:702.
13. The Writings of George Washington, 29:525.
14. George Bancroft, History of the United States of America (D. Appleton and
Co., 1891), 6:414.
15. James Madison’s Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (New
York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1987), 209-210.
16. John Hancock, “Oration, Delivered at Boston, March 5, 1774,” in Hezekiah
Niles, Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America (New York: A.S. Barnes &
Co., 1876), 42.
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