The First Continental Congress P2

Last week I ended talking about Mr. Thomas Cushing of Massachusetts making a motion to open the first Continental Congress in prayer, John Jay of New York and John Rutledge of South Carolina being worried that inviting a member of the clergy from one denomination would meet opposition by members of the others and Samuel Adams turning that completely around.

Samuel Adams turned things completely around by taking the message of Whitefield’s popular “Father Abraham” sermon and gave it practical application. Let's recap that prayer. Whitefield began: Father Abraham, whom have you there with you? Have you Catholics? No. Have you Protestants? No. Have you Churchmen? No. Have you Dissenters also known as Congregationalists? No.

Have you Presbyterians? No. Quakers? No. Anabaptists also known as Amish and Mennonites? No. Whom have you there? Are you alone? No. My brethren, you have the answer to all these questions in the words of my next text: “He who feareth God and worketh righteousness, shall be accepted of Him (Acts 10:35)

Content Sourced From The American Story: The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton.