Patrick
Henry
1736-1799
— Known as an orator of no equal . . . Delegate
to House of burgesses (1765-74) . . . Served in the Continental Congress (1774-1776)
. . . Delegate to the Virginia Provincial Convention (1775) . . . Governor of
Virginia (1776-1779) . . . Worked successfully to have first 10 amendments added
to the US Constitution.
"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."[7]
Written
on the back of Henry's Stamp Act, 1765:
"Whether
this [new government] 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 wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character,
they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation [Proverbs
14:34]. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue
thyself and encourage it in others."[23]
March 23, 1775 at the Second Virginia Convention:
". . .Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the
God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the
Holy cause of Liberty, and in such a country as that which we posses, are invincible
by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight
our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations;
and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is
not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave . . . Is
life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but
as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"[2,13]
From
a 1796 letter to his daughter:
Amongst other strange things said of me, I hear it is said by the deists that
I am one of their number; and, indeed, that some good people think I am no Christian.
This thought gives me much more pain than the appellation of Tory; because I think
religion of infinitely higher importance than politics; and I find much cause
to reproach myself that I have lived so long and have given no decided and public
proofs of my being a Christian. But, indeed, my dear child, this is a character
which I prize far above all this world has, or can boast.[9]
From
his last will and testament:
"This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family.
The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed."[9]