Miracle at Philadelphia (excerpt)

Old Dr. Franklin, sitting with the famous double spectacles low on his nose, now broke silence; he had said little these past days. Addressing himself to Washington in the chair--"The small progress we have made," Franklin said, "after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other--our different sentiments on almost every question...producing almost as many noes and ayes, as methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. And we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

"In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?" Franklin here reminded the convention how at the beginning of the war with England, the Continental Congress had had prayers for divine protection--and in this very room. "Our prayers, Sir, were heard," said Franklin, "and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?...I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men.

The Great Debate (pg 125)