Motion made June 28, 1787
Mr. President,
The small Progress we have made, after 4 or 5
Weeks’ close Attendance and continual Reasonings with each
other, our different Sentiments on almost every Question, several
of the last producing as many Noes as Ayes,
is, methinks, a melancholy Proof of the Imperfection of the Human
Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our want of political Wisdom
since we have been running all about in Search of it. We have
gone back to ancient History for Models of Government, and examin’d
the different Forms of those Republics, which, have been orig[i]nally
form’d with the Seeds of their own Dissolution, now no longer
exist; and we have view’d modern States all round Europe,
but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our Circumstances.
In this Situation of this Assembly, groping,
as it were, in the dark to find Political Truth, and scarce able
to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir,
that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the
Father of Lights to illuminate our Understandings? In the Beginning
of the Contest with Britain, when we were sensible of Danger,
we had daily prayers in this Room for the Divine Protection. Our
Prayers, Sir, were heard; — and they were graciously answered.
All of us, who were engaged in the Struggle, must have observed
frequent Instances of a superintending Providence in our Favour.
To that kind Providence we owe this happy Opportunity of Consulting
in Peace on the means of establishing our future national Felicity.
And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine
we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time;
and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this
Truth, that GOD governs in the Affairs of Men.
And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without His Notice,
is it probable that an Empire can rise without His Aid? We have
been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that "except the
Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it."
I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that, without his concurring
aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than
the Builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little, partial,
local Interests, our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves
shall become a Reproach and a Bye-word down to future Ages. And,
what is worse, Mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate Instance,
despair of establishing Government by human Wisdom, and leave
it to Chance, War, and Conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move,
That henceforth Prayers, imploring the Assistance
of Heaven and its Blessing on our Deliberations, he held in this
Assembly every morning before we proceed to Business; and that
one or more of the Clergy of this city be requested to officiate
in that Service.*
*"The convention, except three or four
persons, thought prayers unnecessary!" [Franklin's note.]
Transcribed into html from Jorgenson,
page 489.
