Transcript

Stephen McDowell: Abraham Lincoln relied upon God to preserve Union and abolish slavery

>> Stephen McDowell: Welcome to America's Providential History Podcast, where we talk about the real story of America and explore the hand of God in our history. Now, here's your host, Steven McDowell. Hello. Glad you're joining us for this edition of America's Providential History. Now, we began some weeks ago looking at the faith of some of the presidents of the United States. Last week, we began to look at Abraham Lincoln and pointed out that there are contrary views of Lincoln's faith depending upon who you listen to. And that depends upon what period of time these people are drawing from, when they're trying to evaluate was Abraham Lincoln a Christian or not? And so we looked at his early life, brought up in a Christian home on the frontier of Kentucky. How he went through a period of skepticism, questioning, is the Christian faith true? and how when he moved to Springfield to become a lawyer and got married, he began to attend the, First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Smith. And we began to see how he began. As he sought more of a knowledge of Christianity and what it's all about, he began to grow in his faith, grow in an understanding, grow in his convictions, even giving a talk on the inerrancy of the Bible, of God's Word. And then, it led us up to the period when he was elected the 16th President of the United States. Now, he was elected in 1860, assumed office in 1861 when he moved to Washington, D.C. he began to attend the NewSong York Avenue Presbyterian Church, which was pastored by Dr. Phineas D. Gurley. And Dr. Gurley, as we will see, testified of a number of things that Lincoln said that would indicate that he believed in the basic orthodox tenets of the Christian faith. But not only did Lincoln testify of, its sincere faith, but other members of the church as well. One gentleman, Reverend William Henry Roberts, wrote, as a member of the NewSong York Avenue Church, I was seated not far from Mr. Lincoln at Sunday services for a year and a half. And his attitude was always that of an earnest and devout worshiper. He certainly wasn't a scoffer as early. One of his early biographers called, him at all. But he was very respectful. He was earnest and devout, in his worship. Now, there are many stories that have been told about Lincoln's reliance upon God, especially during his time as President of the United States, because throughout most of his presidency, the Civil War was going on. And so he would, during times of battles, he prayed often privately, but he also would pray when he had cabinet meetings because he wanted to rely upon God and ask for God's aid and assistance in the conflict that was going on. Dr. Gurley, again, the pastor of the Presbyterian church that Lincoln attended was at the White House during the second battle of Bull Run. And he testified that Lincoln prayed and asked God to move in that conflict. He often referred to God fulfilling his purposes in history. He had a providential view of history and recognized God is the author of history, is bringing forth his plan and purpose. And particularly he wanted to liberate mank all men. And Lincoln referred to that. Lincoln relied upon God to preserve the Union and abolish slavery, believing this was God's intent. He wanted to preserve this Union, the United States of America, unique nation in history. That he believed God had a very important purpose, for mankind. And he wanted to abolish slavery following the belief of the founding fathers who thought here once we were birthed as a nation, the first Christian republic in history, really, that, God wanted to show the world how this Christian nation would deal with this social evil that had plagued man since the fall of mankind. And they took steps to do that. As we've discussed in previous podcasts, eight of the states outlawed slavery. And, all the states agreed to the ending of the slave trade and the Constitution. And that the Northwest ordinance signed by George George Washington as president was an anti slavery contained anti slavery legislation forbidding slavery in any states, new states in the Northwest that would come into the Union. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, those states. And so Lincoln, was following in the footsteps of the founder when he began to take action in his belief that God wanted to preserve the Union and end slavery. One day during the war, a minister said in Lincoln's presence that he hoped the Lord was on our side. To which Mr. Lincoln replied, I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side. This helps summarize Lincoln's understanding of how God works and moves. You know that when you pray, we pray thy will be done. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. We don't pray, let my desired outcome come about, but let the Lord's will be done. And that was his prayer concerning the war. The outcome of the war, the fruit of the war. There was a black clergyman. He writes about a, visit to the servants at the White House, in which he said, in the year 1865, while a chaplain at Freedman's Village on Arlington Heights after the assassination, he's speaking about. This is after the assassination of Lincoln, but three weeks before Mrs. Lincoln left the White House. I dined with the servants employed at the house, some of whom had been engaged in personal attendance upon Mr. Lincoln. My object was really to know more about him, whose memory is still dear to me. I asked the servants how Mr. Lincoln treated them. I was told that frequently late at night, Mr. Lincoln came downstairs to teach them to read. And often took such occasions to draw their thoughts toward the Savior of mankind. He also prayed with them. So what a great testimony of this humble man, Abraham Lincoln, and his desire to let, people know about this, about the living God, the true God, and let the servants, know to draw them toward the Savior of all mankind. And he prayed for them. Shortly before Lincoln's death, an Illinois clergyman was visiting Lincoln in the White House and asked him, do you love Jesus? Mr. Lincoln solemnly replied, when I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian when I buried my son. The severest trial of my life. I was not a Christian. He's speaking about. One of his children died while he was in office. It greatly impacted him. He goes on to say, but when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus. So Gettysburg was a battle in the summer of 1863. It was really a turning point in the war that the Union forces won that fall. There was a ceremony at Gettysburg to honor the thousands and thousands of men who gave their lives in that battle. And Lincoln is referencing that, the impact that that had on him and drawing him to the Lord. So many people have referenced and spoke of an apparent heart change that occurred while he was president. As we examined last week, certainly before his presidency, he was drawing closer to the Lord, learning more about the Lord, professing beliefs to his pastor and others, even giving talks on the inerrancy of the Bible. He obviously was wanting to learn and grow in his knowledge of the Christian faith. But, apparently from the testimony of many people after he became president and after he was dealing with such very trying time in our nation's, history that God worked on him, moved on him and worked in his life. Like this, Illinois clergyman testified. But it wasn't just him. But many people spoke of an apparent heart change. There was a pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, Illinois, A Reverend Miner. Visited him while he was in office, said something of the same thing. Reverend Gurley is the pastor of the NewSong York Avenue Presbyterian Church where Lincoln attended spoke of how Lincoln professed faith. But something happened in him that God moved in his heart. Now Lincoln's best friend was a man named Joshua Speed. Joshua Speed had known Lincoln from early on during his changing periods, his growing in his Christian faith. And so Joshua Speed relates this when he wrote. I have often been asked what were Mr. Lincoln's religious opinions when I knew him in early life he was a skeptic. He had tried hard to be a believer but his reason could not grasp and solve the great problem of redemption as taught. He was very cautious never to give expression to any thought or sentiment that would grate harshly upon a Christian ear. For a sincere Christian he had great respect. The only evidence I have of any change was in the summer before he was killed. I was invited out to the soldier's home to spend the night. As I entered the room near night, he was sitting near a window intently reading his Bible. Approaching him I said, I am glad to see you so profitably engaged.

Speed: Abraham Lincoln displayed Christian character throughout his life

Yes, he said, I am profitably engaged. Well said. I, if you have recovered from your skepticism, I am sorry to say that I have not. Looking me earnestly in the face and placing his hand on my shoulder, he said, you are wrong Speed. Take all of this book upon reason that you can and the balance on faith and you will live and die a ah, happier man. So here is a great testimony of his friend who had known him for decades, knowing when he was a skeptic. And he was given this testimony that he overcame his skepticism, that he was telling Speed, look, you ought to take the Bible, take this book, take it even if your reason can't comprehend at all. Take it on faith you will live and die a happier man. Here's another man who testified of an apparent heart change in Abraham Lincoln while President of the United States. Now Jesus said that we'll know his followers by their action, by their work, by what they do. And as President Theodore Roosevelt pointed out, if ever there was a man who practically applied what he taught in our churches, it was Abraham Lincoln. So certainly Lincoln displayed Christian character really throughout his life. He's known for his honesty. He walked miles and miles just to return a couple of cents chain that he forgot to give when he managed a ah store. He displayed love of neighbor, great humility throughout his life. He certainly was forgiving, and showed that forgiveness throughout his life as well. One of those incidences that reflect his forgiving nature because he understood that God forgave us in Christ we didn't deserve it. but Lincoln issued many pardons for troops during the civil war, both from the north and south, who were sentenced to death for treasonal or, disobeying orders or, other things that, the penalty was death penalty. And he often interfered in cases of court martials. One example, Lincoln was approached one day by a broken hearted old man. His only son had been convicted of unpardonable crimes and sentenced to be shot. I am sorry I can do nothing for you, said Mr. Lincoln. Kindly listen to this telegram I received from General Butler yesterday. President Lincoln, I pray you not to interfere with the court martials of the army. You will destroy all discipline among our soldiers. Watching the old father's grief for a moment, Lincoln then exclaims, by jingo, Butler. No, Butler. Here goes. So, writing a few words, he handed the paper to the old man, reading, job Smith is not to be shot until further orders from me, Abraham Lincoln. Why? Exclaimed the father disappointedly. I thought it was a pardon. You may order him to be shot next week. Well, my friend, answered Lincoln, I see you are not very well acquainted with me. If your son never dies till order come from me to shoot him, he will live to be a great deal older than Methuselah. So here's one example. Of course, as president, he's given the constitutional authority to issue pardons. This is really in recognition, of God as the supreme ruler. He issued us pardons mercifully, and we're thankful for that. And many times, Lincoln would issue pardons again to both soldiers in north and South. Now, Lincoln had publicly displayed his faith in many different ways. He did it through public proclamations, public addresses, because they're filled with scriptural knowledge. Lincoln's most famous address is known as the Gettysburg Address. If you visit the Lincoln Memorial today and you walk up into that memorial, they're seated 19ft tall. Abraham Lincoln. If you look to your left, you'll see engraved on the wall, his Gettysburg Address. Now, as I mentioned earlier, the battle of Gettysburg. Thousands of men died in the summer of 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in a battle that was really a turning point in the war and because of the Union victory, in essence, it assured the Union would win the war, which would end in the preservation of the Union, but also the end of slavery in our nation. Now, that fall of 1863, there was a, ceremony to remember these men who died and to consecrate that very spot where so much blood was spilled. And, President Lincoln was invited to come, but he was not invited to be the primary speaker. That task was given to Edward Everett. He was known as a great orator. And I think his address at Gettysburg was about two hours long. But Lincoln, since he was coming, the organizer said, well, we need to at least invite him to say a few words. On the train ride over, he began to jot down and work on the short, address that he would give at Gettysburg. And he delivered that address, took perhaps four minutes, and became one of the most famous speeches in all of history, the Gettysburg Address. And that address ends with these words, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth. So he recognized that we are a nation under God, and that we, as a nation under God, were to have a new birth of freedom. We were birthed in freedom. But now, putting into effect the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence and secured by the US Constitution of the equality of all men. All men created in the image of God. God, all men have God given rights to life, liberty, and property. And the new birth of freedom would assure that all people in all the states would experience that liberty. As we've discussed in past podcasts, eight of the 13 states, right after our independence, within a few years, ended slavery, and many steps were taken toward ending this social evil that had plagued mankind since the fall of man. The founding generation began to take huge steps toward that end, but all the states didn't. And later on, succeeding generations began to even not see, this was an evil that needed to be changed. And some began to justify it. But as a result of the Civil War, a new birth of freedom came forth in this nation where all men were free. You know, it's interesting that back in around the year 1384, English clergyman Jon Wycliffe had a vision to translate the Bible. He translated from the Latin Vulgate into the English of his day. He was more Middle English. He was a contemporary with Chaucer and with the translation of the Bible. Wycliffe declared that this translation shall produce a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Now, I don't think Lincoln knew that Wycliffe had said that centuries before, but that was really the fruit of what produced government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The translation of the Bible, which we've explored in many podcasts before that.

Many of President Lincoln's public actions reflect his Christian faith

Now another one of his public addresses that reveal his faith and belief in God and, understanding of providential history that Lincoln had was his second inaugural address. Now, while serving as president, Civil war was still going on. Lincoln was elected for a second term, after which he gave his second inaugural address. Now, when you walk up in the Lincoln Memorial and you look to your right, you will see engraved on the wall the text of his second inaugural address. And about halfway through the address, you would read these words. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God. Both. He's speaking of both the north and the south, wars going on. Both of them were appealed to the Bible for what they were doing. They both prayed to the God of the Bible, wanting their action to be honoring God in accordance with his obedience. so it's odd time in history where you have Christian fighting against Christian, which ought not be, but it was. And so that's why Lincoln was trying to figure out what's going on here. Both read to the same Bible and pray to the same God. He says it may seem strange. He goes on to write, that any man should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces. But let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. Woe unto the world because of offenses. For it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by, whom the offense cometh. Here, this is a direct quote from Jesus in the gospels, but before that he referenced at least two other scriptures. So in these few sentences, we see his providential view or tempted to have a providential view of these events. God, what are you doing? to look at the goings on in the eyes of God and how he was at work. And he appealed to scripture and appealed to a knowledge of the scripture. And he believed scripture it motivated, shaped his action. And he's expressing that in this speech. Now, there's many other addresses that Lincoln gave during his presidency and many other events that reflect his faith, his religion, his Christianity. Addresses he gave to Congress. December 3, 1861, March 6, 1862, December 6, 1864, that Lincoln, issued proclamations for orders that the sabbath be observed by the army and the navy. Lincoln issued many days proclamations for days of thanksgiving, days of prayer, days of fasting, and April 10, 1862, July 15, 1863, October 3, 1863, October 20, 1864, Day of Prayer, July 7, 1864, Fast Day, August 12, 1861, and March 30, 1863. And even when there were some victories in battle during the war, he issued, proclamations, for giving thanks on May 9, 1864, September 3, 1864. So many of his public actions reflect his Christian faith. He wrote many letters, to various churches and ministers, from the Lutheran General Synod to the Presbyterian General Council to Methodist ministers, in which you can see his profession of acknowledgment, belief and faith in the Christian religion. Other letters he wrote, speaks to that as well. The last act of Congress signed by President Lincoln before he's assassinated was one requiring the motto In God we trust to be from then on inscribed on all national coins. So we began to put in God we Trust on our national coins, under Lincoln's presidency. And so this is another one of his official actions that reflect what he considered to be important, reflect his faith. Now, Lincoln's whole action regarding slavery and his view of slavery and his steps and his action to end slavery were motivated by his Christian faith, motivated by his understanding of what the Christian faith taught. Early on when A M man, when he was in his 20s, he took a trip to NewSong Orleans on a business thing, and he witnessed the slave markets in NewSong Orleans, after which Lincoln said, if ever I get a chance to hit that thing, I will hit it hard. So early on, Lincoln began to think, somehow God wants to use me to help end this social evil that had plagued mankind since the very beginning. and it came over with those who settled America. And while steps had huge steps had been taken to end it. It had not been completed. And he saw that this needs to be finished. We need to finish ending this social scourge in our nation and let it be an example to nations around the world. Now, in 1837, Abraham Lincoln went to a camp meeting. Last week, his parents were impacted by a camp meeting. Kentucky, in 1806, before Abraham was born. And Lincoln himself attended a number of camp meetings. These are revival meetings where preachers would come and speak and encourage people to get their life right with the Lord. But at this particular camp meeting, he heard a Dr. Peter Akers preach about the coming in to slavery in America. And so when he heard that Lincoln wrote this, he said, I never thought such power could be given to mortal man. Those words were from beyond the speaker. The doctor has persuaded me that American slavery will go down with the crash of a civil war. I am utterly unable to shake from myself the conviction that I shall be involved in that tragedy. Here again we see that in his heart, he felt somehow God wanted to use him. And he was, by the way, inspired by a pastor who was preaching a second, Great Awakening message. This was a message coming out of the second Great Awakening. It wasn't just a pietistic message where we spoke to personal issues where you need to get your life right with the Lord, which they certainly preach that. And thousands upon thousands were converted. But they also taught these social evils are contrary to the liberating nation of the nature of the Christian faith. And so they were speaking to pertinent issues of the day. This is a great lesson for pastors. Today in the United States we have many issues regarding definition of a family, definition of human beings, male and female, abortion issues, and so many other things that the Bible is very clear about. And it's the responsibility of pastors to speak forth God's word. Because who knows in speaking that truth forth, you're going to inspire the next Abraham Lincoln, who God will raise up and use to set things right as he intends them, to be. Abraham Lincoln was elected during 1847-1849. He served as a member of the United States House of Representation, representatives from Illinois. He lost many elections on local and state level and during his life. But he was elected one term as a congressman providentially. During that time he became friends with Jon Quincy Adams. Jon Quincy Adams, as we discussed earlier, after his serving as sixth president of the United States, he was elected to a member of the Congress. And he served 16 or so years in the Congress. And toward the later end of his life is when Lincoln was elected, came, met Adams. He learned firsthand of his strong anti slavery beliefs and how Adams had been working for years and years to, to end slavery. And that helped inspire Lincoln as well to carry on the mission that he believed God had put it in his heart to be involved with. And he understood, that we can't have a strong republic, a strong nation if we don't embrace common ideas of liberty. Lincoln wrote, I tell you, this nation cannot exist half slave and half free. He would also write, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Great words and advice for us today. You know, we can't have half the nation believe in the value of human life, even life in the womb, and the other half just disregard that life at all. It undermines the strength of our union. It keeps us from effectively accomplishing the mission God has for us to advance his liberty in the earth. Now when Lincoln became president, he didn't intend to free the slaves. He didn't Run on a platform, I will free the slaves. He was anti slavery, but he didn't say he would free them because he didn't believe he had the constitutional authority to do so. Those such social issues, he believed, as did the founders of America. This was the issue of the states. The national government had very limited power, and it was listed 18 enumerated powers in Article 1 said, here's the power that the national government has. That's it. That's all it has. All the Rest belong Amendment 9 and 10 with the states and with the people. So Lincoln didn't think he had the power to end slavery, but eventually he did propose a gradual.

Lincoln believed God wanted him to liberate the slaves during the Civil War

He proposed a gradual emancipation. This is what he thought ought to be done. But very soon after the war had started, he recognized, well, I'm just going to emancipate the slaves right away. And again, when Lincoln sent troops into the south after South Carolina seceded from the Union, he sent them there to. To preserve the Union, not to free the slaves. But for the first, part of the war, it seemed like the Union was losing every battle. In fact, it did lose most every battle. And Lincoln was saying, why? Why is this, you know, what's wrong? Are we doing something wrong? In fact, he wrote, on many a defeated field, there was a voice louder than the thundering of a cannon. It was the voice of God crying, let my people go. We were all very slow in realizing it was God's voice. But after many humiliating defeats, the nation came to believe it as a great and solemn command. Great multitudes begged and prayed that I might answer God's voice by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. And I did, believing we never should be successful in the great struggle unless the God of battles has been on our side. And so, as he testified, he believed we've been defeated because we haven't really done what God wants us to do. He wants us to emancipate the slaves. So on January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, well, it was that fall he signed it, and it was going into effect January 1, 1863. All the slaves in the rebellious territory, territories, the south, those that had seceded from the Union, would be free. They would be emancipated. And so he took this action he believed that he could do to, respond to their defeats and respond to what he believed. God. This growing voice that God, was speaking to him to set my. Let my people go. See, because of his action to liberate the slaves, he's known and spoken of as the great liberator. In fact, There was a minister, Reverend William Henry Roberts, would write after Lincoln's, work, after Lincoln died, many years after he said, it will be 50 years next fall, since I came into direct touch with the man who, in the providence of God, was the liberator of a race. And I shall always hold in sweet and blessed memory my first sight of him as a devout worshiper standing for prayer in the sanctuary of the Most High. So here it was a minister testifying, of Lincoln's worshiping. But of here is the man who, in the providence of God, was the liberator of a race. So Lincoln believed that God was the one who wanted him to take the action to liberate the slaves. And that's what motivated him, to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, to take the steps he did, to see that come about. Now, the Civil war ended when General Lee surrendered to General Grant on April 9, 1865, in Appomattox. Now, with the ending of the war, with the victory of the north, there were both good and bad results. The positive results of the, the Union victory was the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union. Lincoln believed that this is what God wanted him to do, that the United States of America needed to be preserved, that God gave birth to it, that God had a plan for it. In the providence of God, he wanted this nation to continue to be an example to the nations of the world, of the fruit and flourishing of a Christian nation. It was vital that this nation be, preserved. But part of what God intended for this nation to do, to show the world how it dealt with this social evil that had plagued mankind since the fall of man, was to end slavery, or slavery, as the world had known at that time. This form of involuntary servitude, slavery, wanted America to show the world. This is what I, want for mankind, everyone to walk in liberty and the liberty of the gospel. And so that was a result. Slavery was abolished in the United States. All the United States. And what had happened here served as an example to many, many nations around the world of steps toward liberty which had been occurring since the advancement of Christianity. So these are great positive effects that did occur, but there were negative effects too. one primary negative effect of the Civil War was the centralization of power in the national government. See, the Founders gave us a unique form of government, a federal form of government, where there was two governments operating upon the people at the same time. There were state governments and there was the national government. Each had authority in its own jurisdiction, and the national government's authority is enumerated in the Constitution. And as I mentioned, it's limited government. There's only 18 listed powers. Here's what the national government can do. And all the rest of governing actions belong with the states are the people. Founders of America gave us that because they understood history shown that centralization of power always leads to loss of liberty. The more centralized power in the hands of one or a few or even a many will result in individual liberties lost. And so, that balance of powers of state and national began to, move toward stronger national government as a result of the Civil War. It's interesting that before the Civil War we used to write the United States of America are emphasis upon the diversity of all the states, many states forming one nation. After the Civil War, we began to write the United States of America is the emphasis upon the unity. And with that emphasis on the central government, the national government power over since that time has been drawn more and more toward the national government, which has taken more of our money, more of our liberties. And this is something we need to work to get back into, balance as well. Well, Abraham Lincoln was shot by Jon Wilkes Booth at Ford's theater in Washington D.C. on April 14, 1865, just a few days after the war ended. He died the next day in the house across the street. Now, Lincoln believed in immortality. many years earlier, when Abraham Lincoln heard that his father was dying, he wrote a letter to his stepbrother in which he said, I sincerely hope father may recover his health. But tell him to remember to call upon and confide in our great and good and merciful Maker, who will not turn away from him in any extremity. He notes the fall of a sparrow and numbers the hairs of our head. And he will not forget the dying man who puts his trust in him. Say to him that if it be his lot to go now, he will soon have a joyous meeting with many loved ones and gone before and where the rest of us, through the help of God, hope ere long to join him. So this was 1851. He wrote this letter January 12th to Jon D. Johnson, his half brother. And so this was during the time where he was attending the First Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was growing in his knowledge of God, growing in his faith. And he reflects the knowledge of the scripture Here in this letter reflects an understanding and a belief in immortality that the Christian faith teaches that we have life eternal if we will commit ourselves, submit ourselves to him, respond to his grace, toward us. And Lincoln believed this. So he believed it Then and when he was shot, that belief was within his heart as well. And so as we look at the life, in particular the faith of Abraham Lincoln, we see a man who grew over time, brought up in a Christian home, went through a period of questioning skepticism. but then as he sought and began to study and read the Bible and listen to pastors preach and others, he began to grow in his knowledge of the Christian faith and understanding of what it was. Maybe in his life he, couldn't reconcile everything theologically that he might have expressed some ideas that show, his immaturity and theological belief. But this is true of all of us. We are all growing to become more and more a mature man. So in ways he might have been reflected ideas of a new believer. But certainly he was growing in his faith. During the time of presidency, he had some kind of encounter with the Lord, testified to by many, some kind of change of heart drawing closer to the Lord. He believed God was using him, and God did use him to preserve the Union, to end slavery. and that, as Reverend Gurley said, Abraham Lincoln had confessed to him, I do believe in the basic tenets of the Christian faith. I do want to have a public expression of that. I do want to officially let people know where I stand. But as he said, I'm going to wait till after these events of the war. I don't want to think anyone thinks I'm using this as a political thing. But he never had that opportunity to express that faith because he was assassinated. And so Lincoln, was a man, like many Christians who undergo different periods of his faith, different time frames. So we need to look at the whole man throughout his whole life, to be able to assess was Lincoln a Christian or not.

Was Abraham Lincoln a Christian? What evidence does the evidence show

Now, if you want to learn more, this, material that I've been presenting to you in this podcast, and the last one comes from a, a little booklet I wrote called the Faith of Abraham Lincoln. You can get a copy from our website, providencefoundation.com. look at our store there and get a copy of that. And it will give much more information than I've given, but also give you a lot of other resources because there were scores of books written about Lincoln's faith alone. So you can delve even more deeply if this is of interest to, to you to explore. Was, Abraham Lincoln a Christian? And what, does the evidence show? So I hope you've enjoyed just, getting to know Abraham Lincoln a little bit, getting to know his faith. He was a man in the providence of God. He used for very important reasons in the history of our nation and really in the history of the advance of liberty throughout all the world. Well, Visit our website, providencefoundation.com to learn more. Not just about Lincoln, but about so many other things. Lots of articles and videos and other things that will keep you busy for a long time. Well, I hope you'll join us next week, as we will continue our look at the faith of some of the presidents of the United States. God bless you.