Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin condemns any people.

• Proverbs 14:34

“Drawing down over his eyes a silken cap which he usually wore, and still holding the vial in his hand, he prayed, in clear words, a simple childlike prayer, for his family, for his country, and for his own soul then in the presence of death. Afterward, in perfect calmness, he swallowed the medicine. Meanwhile Dr. Cabell, who greatly loved him, went out on the lawn, and in his grief threw himself down upon the earth under one of the trees, weeping bitterly.

“Recovering his composure, Dr. Cabell returned to the sickroom to find Henry speaking words of comfort to his weeping family. He told them he was thankful for the goodness of God, who had blessed him all his life, and, seeing Dr. Cabell, he implored him to receive Christ as his Savior. With that, the statesman breathed his last.
“Shortly afterward, his executors found a small envelope sealed with wax near his last will and testament. On a single sheet of paper, the great orator had recorded some of his last thoughts, including these words about American independence:

“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 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. Reader!, whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy Sphere, practice Virtue thyself, and encourage it in others. P. Henry.”

• Robert J. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses That Made America

In my recent trip to visit the grandchildren, the oldest of them went with me to Nashville, to sell used books and games.  One of the books that I purchased in return was 100 Bible Verses That Made America by Robert J. Morgan.  As we approach the 250^th anniversary of the birth of the USA, I thought I would do a condensed mini-series on some of these verses, four posts per week for a few weeks – maybe not all 100 verses.

Patrick Henry (1736-1799) was known as a great orator and statesman.  He held various public offices, twice governor, and representative of his district in Virginia, a few of them.  He died of mercury poisoning, in the vial the doctor had given him.  He was dying of stomach cancer.  The doctor said that he would either die from the contents of the vial or he would be cured.  Thus was the state of medicine in 1799.

But when it comes to his last words, he prayed for a blessing from God for his family, his country, and for his own soul.  He then begged the doctor to accept Jesus Christ into his heart.  And then he breathed his last.

But in his effects, there was the sealed envelope with his last will and testament.  These last words paraphrase Proverbs 14:34.

The author spoke of historian Daniel L Dreisbach.  Dreisbach said Proverbs 14:34 was possibly the most ubiquitous verse quoted by the Founding Fathers.  Samuel Adams quoted it in a letter to Richard Henry Lee.  Rev. Samuel Cooper gave the sermon when John Hancock was inaugurated as governor of Massachusetts, and his sermon was on this verse.  And John Adams quoted the verse when proclaiming 25 April 1799 as a National Day of Prayer.  And these are just a few.

That National Day of Prayer that John Adams proclaimed was less than two months before Patrick Henry breathed his last.

Indeed, righteousness exalts a nation.  Otherwise, sin will corrupt any nation.

Many talk about the USA as the greatest nation on earth.  When we do not live righteously, we have no right to that claim.  May we repent and return to God.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.