Samuel Shaw to the Rev. Eliot I cannot dismiss this subject without observing, that it is happy for America that she has a patriot army,...

Ambrose Serle: Journal, July 12-23, 1776: The Congress have at length thought it convenient to throw off the Mask. Their Declaration of...

John Adams to Abigail Adams: But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epoch, in the History of...

Abigail Adams to John Adams: I was struck with General Washington. You had prepaired me to entertain a favorable opinion of him, but I...

John Adams to Abigail Adams: We have appointed a continental Fast. Millions will be upon their Knees at once before their great Creator,...

John Adams to Abigail Adams: "But America is a great, unwieldy Body. Its Progress must be slow. It is like a large Fleet sailing under...

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to...

Of the checks proper to be established against the abuse of power in those courts. Hirtherto there are none. But since so much has been...

It is said to be founded on an article in the state-constitution, which establishes the liberty of the press. A liberty which every...

In these Sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government...

Mr. President, The small Progress we have made, after 4 or 5 Weeks’ close Attendance and continual Reasonings with each other, our...

I agreed with you in Sentiments concerning the Old Testament, and thought the Clause in our Constitution, which required the Members of...

Being just return’d to Town from a little Excursion I find yours of the 22d containing a Number of Queries that would require a Pamphlet...

I should be glad to know what it is that distinguishes Connecticut Religion from common Religion: Communicate, if you please, some of...

About the same time considerable support was given by Episcopalians, Methodists, and certain Presbyterians to a proposal that the Christian faith be pronounced the established religion and that certain taxes be divided among the several denominations. The Baptists strenuously opposed the idea. After several years of debate the issue came to a head in the 1784-1785 session of the General Assembly. James Madison, whose ideas ran counter to those of Patrick Henry on this point,

Doctrines which stressed God's activity through nature and man's innate goodness had a certain natural appeal to the American mind; to certain groups of intellectuals and anti-revivalists they were highly gratifying. In the place of "enthusiasm" they could substitute reason, in the place of faith, good works. Many Deists maintained a nominal connection with the church without adhering to its doctrines, as in the case of George Washington. Others, such as Jefferson and Frankli

Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my annual subscription for the support of the only Presbyterian minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He us'd to visit me sometimes as a friend, and admonish me to attend his administrations, and I was now and then prevail'd on to do so, once for five Sundays successively. Had he been in my opinion a good preacher, perhaps I

My parents had early given me religious impressions, and brought me through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way. But I was scarce fifteen when, after doubting by turns of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what w

When about 16 years of age I happened to meet with a book, written by one Tryon, recommending a vegetable diet. I determined to go into it. My brother, being yet unmarried, did not keep house, but boarded himself and his apprentices in another family. My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity. I made myself acquainted with Tryon's manner of preparing some of his dishes, such as boiling potations or, making hasty pudding