And as my children will have frequent occasion of
perusing this instrument and may probably be particularly impressed with the
last words of their father, I think it proper here not only to subscribe to the
entire belief of the great and leading doctrines of the Christian religion,
such as the being of God, the universal defection and depravity of human nature,
the divinity of the person and the completeness of the redemption purchased by
the blessed Savior, the necessity of the operations of the Divine Spirit; of
Divine faith accompanied with an habitual virtuous life, and the universality
of the Divine Providence: but also, in the bowels of a father's affection, to
exhort and charge them that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, that
the way of life held up in the Christian system is calculated for the most
complete happiness that can be enjoyed in this mortal state. Richard Stockton,
Signer of the Declaration

These wills, and others like them, represent the tone of
what was common among the Founders. Additionally, the personal writings of many
other Founders reflect equally succinct declarations about their faith in
Christ. Consider a few examples:

My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel
of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away evade or object to the whole tenor
of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others
countenances permits His disciples in asserting that He was God. John Quincy
Adams

Now to the triune God, The Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, be ascribed all honor and dominion, forevermore Amen. Gunning Bedford,
Signer of the Constitution

The religion I have is to love and fear God, believe in
Jesus Christ, do all the good to my neighbor, and myself that I can, do as
little harm as I can help, and trust on God's mercy for the rest. Daniel Boone,
Revolutionary Officer; Legislator