“…altho’, the race is not always to the swift, or the Battle to the strong, yet without presumptuously waiting for Miracles to be wrought in our favour, it is our indispensible Duty, with the deepest gratitude to Heaven for the past, and humble confidence in its smiles on our future operations, to make use of all the Means in our power for our defence and security”;84
Solemn Covenants (Genesis 26:28)
This is a phrase not directly found in the Bible, but the concept comes from the scriptures. The context of this letter is that George Washington is writing about a man who was allegedly conducting his business in a shady way.
To Lund Washington, December 17, 1778:
“If this should be the case, it will be only adding to the many proofs we dayly see of the folly of leaving bargains unbound by solemn covenants.”85
Rising of the Sun to the setting of the same (Psalm 113:3; 50:1) All is Vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
To William Vans Murray, Mount Vernon, December 3, 1797:
“….what with the plague and trouble proceeding from the number of workmen I have been obliged to employ, and of other matters little interesting to any but myself I have been occupied from the ‘rising of the sun to the setting of the same,’ and which as the wise man has said ‘may be all vanity and vexation of spirit,’ but as I did not seek it a source of happiness, but entered upon as a case of necessity, a line may be drawn between his disappointmts. and mine.”86
To Doctor James Anderson, November 4, 1797:
“…I promise myself more real enjoyment than in all the bustling with which I have been occupied for upwards of 40 years of my life which as the wise man says, is little more than vanity and vexation.”87
Bricks made of straw (Exodus 5:7)
To Joseph Jones, June 7, 1781:
“….to require Brick without straw was the complaint of old time.”88
Swords Into Plowshares (Isaiah 2:4)
“The nations learn war no more”89
To Marquis de Chastellux, April 25[-May 1], 1788:
“…for the sake of humanity it is devoutly to be wished, that the manly employment of agriculture and the humanizing benefits of commerce, would supersede the waste of war and the rage of conquest; that the swords might be turned into plough-shares, the spears into pruning hooks, and, as the Scripture expresses it, ‘the nations learn war no more.’”90
To Do Justice, To Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with Your God (Micah 6:8)
Circular letter to the governors of the States, June 8, 1783:
“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”91 (emphasis ours)
An interesting aspect of this letter is that Micah 6:8, to which George Washington is alluding, actually says “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you God.” But Washington turns Micah’s phrase “walk humbly with your God” into a direct reference to Jesus Christ. By direct implication, he was equating Jesus with God, a doctrine he subscribed to as an eighteenth century Anglican. Furthermore, Washington is making a profound point that modern Americans would do well to heed: unless we imitate Jesus Christ in his commitment and example with respect to his love (charity), humility, and peace (pacific temper of mind), we cannot hope to be a happy nation.
For George Washington, walking humbly with your God meant: “and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”
Broken Reed (Isaiah 36:6)
To John Sullivan, November 20, 1780:
“To depend, under these circumstances, upon the resources of the Country, unassisted by foreign loans will I am confident, be to lean on a broken Reed.”92
The Filling of the Measure of Iniquity (Genesis 15:16)
To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, June 28, 1788:
“May this be the case, before that inconsiderate People shall have filled up the measure of iniquity before it shall be too late!”93
Here’s another example: To James Warren, March 31, 1779:
“Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good Man would wish. The measure of iniquity is not yet filled.”94
Ascribe Glory (Deuteronomy 32:3, Psalm 115:1)
To Reverend John Rodgers, June 11, 1783:
“Dear Sir: I accept, with much pleasure your kind Congratulations on the happy Event of Peace, with the Establishment of our Liberties and Independence. Glorious indeed has been our Contest: glorious, if we consider the Prize for which we have contended, and glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to divine Providence is to be ascribed the Glory and the Praise.”95
Six…Yea Seven (a pattern set in Proverbs 6:16)
To Benjamin Lincoln, August 28, 1788:
“But I trust in that Providence, which has saved us in six troubles yea in seven, to rescue us again from any imminent, though unseen, dangers. Nothing, however, on our part ought to be left undone.”96
Led like sheep to the slaughter (Romans 8:36)
To the officers of the Army, March 15, 1783:
“…if Men are to be precluded from offering their Sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of Speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.”97
Yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1)
