The Original Webster Dictionary

American Dictionary Of The English Language - 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. -Preface You can search the original dictionary over here. Compare and contrast the meaning of the words back then and now. For example: God n. 1828:

The Supreme Being; Jehovah; the eternal and infinite spirit, the creator,and the sovereign of the universe.

God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4.

Now: 1 capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind 2 : a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality Sources: http://1828.mshaffer.com/ http://www.m-w.com/

The Dark Guest

O LORD, Bend my hands and cut them off, for I have often struck you with a wayward will, when these fingers should embrace you by faith. I am not yet weaned from all created glory, honour, wisdom, and esteem of others, for I have a secret motive to eye my name in all I do. Let me not only speak the word sin, but see the thing itself. Give me to view a discovered sinfulness, to know that though my sins are crucified they are never wholly mortified. Hatred, malice, ill-will, vain-glory that hungers for and hunts after man's approval and applause, all are crucified, forgiven, but they rise again in my sinful heart. O my crucified but never wholly mortified sinfulness! O my life-long damage and daily shame! O my indwelling and besetting sins! O the tormenting slavery of a sinful heart! Destroy, O God, the dark guest within whose hidden presence makes my life a hell. Yet you have not left me here without grace; The cross still stands and meets my needs in the deepest straits of the soul. I thank you that my remembrance of it is like David's sight of Goliath's sword which preached forth your deliverance. The memory of my great sins, my many temptations, my falls, bring afresh into my mind the remembrance of your great help, of your support from heaven, of the great grace that saved such a wretch as I am. There is no treasure so wonderful as that continuous experience of your grace toward me which alone can subdue the risings of sin within: Give me more of it. -A Puritan Prayer