James
Madison
1751-1836
— 4th President of the US (1801-1809) .
. . Served in Continental Congress (1780-1783 & 1787) . . . In 1776 helped draft
a new constitution for Virginia . . . Served in the Virginia Legislature (1784-1786)
. . . Delegate to the Constitutional Convention . . . Known for his political
skills and persuasive logic . . . Called the "master builder of the constitution."
Contributed to the Federalist Papers . . . Strong advocate for first 10
amendments to the Constitution (Bill of Rights).
"The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded. We've staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government — far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the commandments of God."[18]
"The belief in a God All Powerful, wise and good, is essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man."[1]
(A
Memorial and Remonstrance, delivered to the General Assembly of Virginia, 1785,
from America's God and Country by William Federer):
". . . because the policy of the bill is adverse to the diffusion of the light
of Christianity. The first wish of those who ought to enjoy this precious gift,
ought to be, that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind."[43]
January
11, 1788, Federalist Papers No. 37:
"The real wonder is
that so many difficulties should have been surmounted, and surmounted with a unanimity
almost as unprecedented as it must have been unexpected. It is impossible for
any man of candor to reflect on this circumstance without partaking of the astonishment.
It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger
of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our
relief in the critical stages of the revolution."[43]
"Before
any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered
as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And to the same Divine Author of
every good and perfect gift [James 1:17] we are indebted for all those privileges
and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this
favored land."[7]