“For my own part, I sincerely esteem [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.” —Alexander Hamilton (1787 after the Constitutional Convention)

“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” —George Washington, 1789

“We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!” —John Adams and John Hancock, signers of the Declaration of Independence (April 18, 1775)

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.” —Patrick Henry

“Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.”  —Patrick Henry

“In a country above all others fond of liberty, many defend a principle as repugnant to humanity as it is inconsistent with the Bible and destructive to liberty. . . . I am a master of slaves of my own purchase! I am drawn along by the general inconvenience of living without them. I will not, I cannot justify it. . . . A time will come when an option will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil . . . but if not, let us transmit to our descendents, together with our slaves, an abhorrence for slavery. If we cannot reduce this wished for reformation to practice, let us treat the unhappy victims with lenity. It is the furthest advance we can make toward justice.” —Cited in the December 3 issue of World Magazine, from Thomas Kidd, Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots

“Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful; but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.” —Joseph Warren (1775)

“Since private and publick Vices, are in Reality, though not always apparently, so nearly connected, of how much Importance, how necessary is it, that the utmost Pains be taken by the Publick, to have the Principles of Virtue early inculcated on the Minds even of children, and the moral Sense kept alive, and that the wise institutions of our Ancestors for these great Purposes be encouraged by the Government. For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.” 
—Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 4 November 1775

“It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” —Abraham Lincoln