Abraham Lincoln stated in his famous Gettysburg Address that our nation was conceived in liberty and we have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This birthing of a nation that came forth from liberty’s womb has foundations preceding 1776 and 1787. On January14, 1639 the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were accepted. Penned by Roger Ludlow in 1638, it was the first constitution written in America. It became the model for the United States Constitution. #1
Rev Thomas Hooker led his Cambridge congregation from Massachusetts Bay Colony to the shore of the Connecticut River and settled in the area we now call Hartford . Ludlow penned The Fundamental Orders after hearing Hooker,s preaching and teaching . The committee framing the orders was charged to make the laws:
“As near the law of God as they can be” #2
The Connecticut towns of Hartford, Weathersfield and Windsor adopted the Constitution Jan14, 1639
Preamble of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
“For as much as it has pleased the Almighty God by the wise disposition of His divine providence so as to order and dispose of things that we the inhabitants and residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield and now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River Connecticut and the lands thereunto adjoining; and well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people, there should be an orderly and decent government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of all the people at all seasons as occasion shall require; do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one Public State or Commonwealth, and do for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess, as also the discipline of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said Gospel is now practiced among us; as also in our civil affairs to be guided and governed according to such Laws, Rules, Orders and Decrees as shall be made, ordered and decreed as followeth”
It is very clear and simple. The men and women who fled England desired a government aligned and harmonious with the Creator. It was clear to our Founders that the Creator saw the need to establish a civic government to help people live and get along with each other. The Creator has always seen this need and has always provided for a people with a government with laws.
Moses established a civic government, under God , with rules. These rules are summed up in what we call the Ten Commandments. Our Founders knew that any people who followed these laws became a free, mighty, loving, powerful, compassionate, peaceful, nation.
The Constitution State was the first to write a constitution based on a godly government. The Great Seal of Connecticut has not changed since its founding. The seal proudly takes its place as the centerpiece of our state flag. Our State motto is in the seal. “Qui Transtulit Sustinet “ is written on the ribbon beneath the three grapevines. It is Latin for “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains”.
The Founders of Connecticut and the Founders of our United States sought a government that would allow people to live in the freedom and liberty and prosperity of their Creator. Citizens would have the freedom to make that choice, God, who transplanted people to Connecticut will continue to sustain each and every one. The grapevine, in biblical terms, is a symbol of God’s support and prosperity.
The foundation and roots of our Constitution go very deep. To understand “We The People ” requires looking into our history and seeing what really took place. The current teachers of US history choose to pick a few incidents to paint a picture of evil men and women who came to America seeking money and power. False statements by those who want the destruction of our nation.
More is coming to show the roots and foundation of our Constitution and the humility, honesty, and love of our Founders.
References:
#1 Old South Leaflets, No.8 The World Book Encyclopedia !957 18 Vols.
#2 John Wingate Thornton The pulpit of the American Revolution, 1860 ( Reprinted NY : Burt Franklin, 1970) ,p. XIX
Author: Steven Strzepek
