Thomas Paine in his book "Common Sense", published in 1776, said:
"In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no
kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings
which throw mankind into confusion. Holland without a king hath enjoyed more peace
for this last century than any of the monarchial governments in Europe. Antiquity
favours the same remark; for the quiet and rural lives of the first patriarchs
hath a happy something in them, which vanishes away when we come to the history of
Jewish royalty."
"The children of Israel being oppressed by the Midianites, Gideon marched
against them with a small army, and victory, through the divine interposition,
decided in his favour. The Jews, elate with success, and attributing it to the
generalship of Gideon, proposed making him a king, saying, RULE THOU OVER US,
THOU AND THY SON AND THY SON'S SON. Here was temptation in its fullest extent;
not a kingdom only, but an hereditary one, but Gideon in the piety of his soul
replied, I WILL NOT RULE OVER YOU, NEITHER SHALL MY SON RULE OVER YOU THE LORD
SHALL RULE OVER YOU. Words need not be more explicit; Gideon doth not decline
the honour, but denieth their right to give it; neither doth he compliment them
with invented declarations of his thanks, but in the positive style of a prophet
charges them with disaffection to their proper Sovereign, the King of heaven."
Today we are in the war again lead by our President (we don't have King in US).
Should we go to this war? Is war the answer to our problems? What are we going
to get into? Should we be "One Nation under God", or "One Nation under President"?
Should we kidnap God to put HIM on our side? Should we tell the world "you
are either with us or against us" (like a mighty god, or king)? Re-reading
Thomas Pain's "Common Sense" might help us to understand our current situation.
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