Some Principles Underlying Government and United States History
By Laura Wagner
HISTORY is a record of events. That record shows that a controversy has been going on between unseen forces as well as the forces that are visible. In studying the history of the United States we find this to be true. The unseen forces are Christ and Satan. The conflict began with Satan in heaven. He was cast out, and with his forces determined to get possession of this world. God created the earth to be inhabited, Adam and Eve had dominion over all things. Satan usurped the kingdom, and thus became prince of this world. Since that time Satan has been working to bring the people of all the world into subjection to him, while Christ has been working to counteract this evil. God has the ideal form of government, and he desires men to be self-governing and free, but Satan wishes them to be in subjection. Under Satan's evil influence, man wandered further and further from God, until the race was completely in subjection to Satan, and every imagination25of the thoughts of the human heart was “only evil continually.” God saw that something must be done, so an ark was provided for the few who were righteous, and the whole earth was destroyed by a flood. After the flood the people were told to scatter abroad and replenish the earth. A great portion of the inhabitants of the earth became wicked again; so God chose one man to become the father of a nation through which he could teach the true principles of government. This he did through the person of Abraham. The Israel of God, as these people were called, departed from the true principles given them, until they rejected God, and chose a king, that they might be like other nations. God now endeavored to teach the true principles of government, not through nations, but through individuals, so God's chosen people to-day are found to be of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and will be until the close of time. Beginning at the time when Israel chose a king, we find in studying their history that they as a nation had forsaken God, only a few among them being loyal. The nation grew so rebellious and wicked that they actually stoned the prophets of God. From this time on, the people who were really striving to serve God found it very difficult. God's once-true Israel rejected Christ, and not long after his ascension a persecution began which waxed steadily worse. The Christians were persecuted on every side. Then followed the most terrible era of ecclesiastical crime known in history,—the Dark Ages. During this time the persecution was fearful,—how fearful we know from the Bible, which says, “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” God saw that something must be done to save his few loyal people. First, he raised up such reformers as Huss, Jerome, Wyclif, and Luther. Then began what history calls the Reformation, which gave light to the poor souls in darkness. Then God prepared an ark for his people, as in the days of Noah, in the shape of the New World; for in 1492 all the world was startled by the discovery of lands across the “Sea of Darkness.” Here a refuge was prepared for the persecuted. Homes were made in this new world, explorations were conducted by the different nations until by the eighteenth century, the thirteen colonies had been settled by the English; France held territory in Canada and along the Mississippi; and Spain possessed Florida and Mexico. God's hand was in all this, for he permitted the English people instead of the Spanish or French, to settle the greater part of the New World, and in the French and English war which followed the settlement, the English, a freedom-loving people, gained possession of the greater portion of what later became the United States. The great War of the Revolution made the colonies free and independent States, and at the close of the war, the Constitution of the United States was drawn up, and a new nation was born, destined to rise foremost among the nations of the world. In 1619 slavery was introduced into the colonies. This awful traffic grew most rapidly in the South, because it was found more profitable there than in the North. A strife between the North and South grew out of slavery and related questions until the Civil War was the result; but the Union was preserved, and the slaves were freed. Peace once more reigned, and attention was given to improvements, and rapid advancement has since been made in every line of civilization. The nation has grown in wealth until men of great money interests have succeeded in getting a large control of its affairs. Much distress among the laboring classes has been caused. The strife between capital and labor will continue. Again a spirit of religious intolerance is rising in fulfilment of the prophecy of Revelation 13. The saddest part of this country's history is the part now developing, the growth of religious intolerance in the “land of freedom.” But what God says is true, and soon the crisis will be upon the people. It is interesting and helpful to study the history of the United States, seeing through it all the mercy of God, and his tender care in endeavoring to lead the world to see his principles of government. LAURA WAGNER.