Elias
Boudinot
1740-1821 —
Member of Continental
Congress both before and after adoption of Articles of Confederation . . . Served
as its president (1782-83) . . . Ardently supported the Constitution and helped
secure New Jersey's ratification of it . . . Served in Congress (1789-95) . .
. Director of US Mint (1795-1805) . . . First President of American Bible Society
(1816-21).
From
an address to the Continental Congress :
"Let us enter on this important business under the idea that we are Christians
on whom the eyes of the world are now turned . . . Let us in the first place .
. . humbly and penitently implore the aid of the Almighty God whom we profess
to serve. Let us earnestly call and beseech Him for Christ's sake to preside in
our councils."[17]
From
a letter to his daughter:
"You have been instructed from your childhood in the knowledge of your lost
state by nature; the absolute necessity of a change of heart, and an entire renovation
of soul to the image of Jesus Christ; of salvation thro' His meritorious righteousness
only; and the indispensable necessity of personal holiness without which no man
shall see the Lord."[9]