Patrick Henry: My favourite founder.

Patrick Henry had a very fruitful life. He played one of the most important and pivotal roles in Americans gaining their independence from Great Britain. Henry was a man who understood his times. He knew, long before the great majority of his countrymen, what was confronting them and what needed to be done.

Patrick Henry was a devout Christian. His mother had been swept up in the Great Awakening, the momentous Calvinistic revival that swept the British colonies during his youth. Henry himself credited much of his own oratorical skills to Rev. Samuel Davies, an important Presbyterian preacher in Virginia at that time.

Henry had a large family, seventeen children from two marriages. The final words in his last will and testament shows how important Christ was in his life and family. Here are those words: "This is all the inheritance I can give to my family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed."

Patrick Henry also loved America. With his will were other papers he believed to be important. Among those papers were these words to addressed to future Americans about this country: "Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others."

Henry understood, as did most of his fellow citizens that doctrinally sound Christianity, which produced righteousness in the people of the nation, was vital to both political and religious liberty and freedom.

There are few people today that adhere to the Christian doctrines and biblical worldview that Americans’ followed in Henry’s day. The Great Awakening was a vital component of the thinking that lead to the War of Independence and the shaping of our countries political and religious liberty.

We, as a nation have forgotten, these things. Is it any wonder that our we have become a people with a “contrary character.” We need to look at the past to examine our faith today. What did the Christians, who bestowed upon us a Christian country, believe that we have forgotten? Is there anything we can learn from them?

We can learn a lot but that would mean reading and study, and who wants to do that? I hope more and more Christians will do that and if we are faithful God may yet grant our children or us another Great Awakening.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Kenith