PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE - WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT (perhaps his only sensible quote):

 PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

Arkansas (1874)

"We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the same to ourselves and posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution."

 THE FAMILY ALTAR

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Here the Lord Jesus tells His apostles in what the work of

the promised Holy Spirit would consist, namely, in glorifying Him,

making Him, the world's only Savior and Redeemer, precious and

glorious before the eyes and hearts of men by means of the holy

Gospel. And that is what the Holy Ghost does and will do to

the end of time. He speaks not of Himself, brings no new doc-

trine, no new revelations outside of, or contrary to, what our Lord

Jesus has taught us. He speaks only those things that serve to

make the person, and the work, and the great redeeming love

of our Savior clearer, and holier, and dearer to us, so that, like

the apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration, we see no one, save

Jesus only, as the hope of our salvation. Here, then, we have an

unfailing touchstone by means of which we can soon detect any

false doctrine or false teacher. The Apostle John warns us and

all Christians: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the

spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are

gone out into the world." (1 John 4, 1.) All about us we hear

such false prophets preaching their soul-destroying false doctrines;

and what makes them so dangerous is that they come to us in

sheep's clothing, seem so pious, and sincere, and so eager to teach

nothing but the saving truth. Alas, so many blood-bought souls

become their victims, because they do not make the Word of Christ

alone their guide and shield. But let us learn that every doctrine

is false and therefore harmful to our immortal soul which does

not in every instance give all glory for our redemption, conversion,

and salvation alone to Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior,

God's very Son, made manifest in the flesh.

Holy Ghost, with light divine,

Shine upon this heart of mine!

Chase the shades of night away,

Turn the darkness into day.

Let me see my Savior's face,

Let me all His beauties trace;

Show those glorious truths to me,

Which are only known to Thee.