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Lincoln's plea for assistance
President-elect Lincoln, the day before his 52nd birthday on Feb. 11, 1861, gave a farewell address to the people of his home town, Springfield, Ill.
Civil war was looming. The following is a quote from the latter part of the farewell address, his plea for support from the people:
"I now leave with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me and remain with you and be every where for good. Let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me" (Abraham Lincoln: Speeches, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings, Presidential Messages and Proclamations, The Library of America; pg. 199).
As Lincoln believed President George Washington received Divine Being, so should we support and pray for a Divine Being in our President Obama.
Victor Goehring
Lodi

Reader Feedback
lodisafeway wrote on Feb 16, 2009 8:39 AM:
Only God can solve our problems; government is simply an instrument in that endeavor, if applied conservatively. While I do not believe that President Obama's tasks ahead of him come even close to the enormity of Lincoln's, if his less-than stellar start is any indication, we should all be praying in earnest.
For those of you who have no faith, please disregard this post; it does not apply to you. "
loadeye wrote on Feb 16, 2009 7:57 AM:
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