America's Godly Heritage

Marriage was not originated by human law. When God created Eve, she was a wife to Adam; they then and there occupied the status of husband to wife and wife to husband. . . . The truth is that civil government has grown out of marriage . . . which created homes, and population, and society, from which government became necessary. . . . [Marriages] will produce a home and family that will contribute to good society, to free and just government, and to the support of Christianity. . . . It would be sacrilegious to apply the designation “a civil contract” to such a marriage. It is that and more – a status ordained by God.89
The courts recognized that God (not government) had made marriage and the family, and that government therefore didn’t have a right to regulate something it hadn’t made. Courts further noted that civil laws made divorce difficult to obtain because the Bible made divorce difficult to obtain. As one court explained:
This engagement [the legal contract of marriage] is the most solemn and important of human transactions. It is regarded by all Christian nations as the basis of civilized society. . . . The parties cannot dissolve the contract, as they can others, by mutual consent; and no light or trivial causes should be suffered to effect its rescission. . . . [T]he happiness of married life greatly depends on its

if God-fearing citizens are not involved at the ballot box, God-fearing leaders will not be elected, God-honoring policies will not be enacted, and the respective city, state, or nation will not be blessed by God. Understanding this, Chief Justice John Jay reminded voters in his day:
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers; and it is the duty – as well as the privilege and interest – of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.112 (emphasis added)
The Rev. Charles Finney (1792-1875) similarly reminded Christian voters in his day:

[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . God cannot sustain this free and blessed country which we love and pray for unless the Church will take right ground. . . . He will bless or curse this nation according to the course [Christians] take [in politics].113

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers; and it is the duty – as well as the privilege and interest – of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.112 (emphasis added)
The Rev. Charles Finney (1792-1875) similarly reminded Christian voters in his day:

[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . God cannot sustain this free and blessed country which we love and pray for unless the Church will take right ground. . . . He will bless or curse this nation according to the course [Christians] take [in politics].