Sounding Forth the Trumpet: God's Plan for America in Peril, 1837-1860

The Light and the Glory #3

by Peter J. Marshall, David Manuel

Continuing their U.S. history series, the authors chronicle the years 1837 to 1860, covering the Gold Rush, the Mexican War, and the boiling issues leading to the Civil War.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Civil War, American History, Christianity, Christian, Religion

560 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

The Rev. Peter John Marshall was the son of Rev. Peter and Catherine Marshall. He often wrote as Peter Marshall.

From 1977 until his death, he had devoted himself to a nationwide ministry of preaching, teaching and writing.

Reviews

[Bro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book because the whole thing is about slavery and how the South's arrogance kept it going. The writers are obviously from the North. They mentioned the wage slavery, and the caste society and snobbery of the North in passing, but resounded how the South was worse because even Christian slave owners beat, slept and had children with their slaves. When they stuck to the facts it was super, but I could have done without a jab in every chapter. I believe both sides had their issues and we all suffered because of our sins. It needed more balance on the issues of the times to be a great book like the first in the series.

[Larry Killion · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sounding Forth the Trumpet.
By Peter Marshall and David Manuel.

This is the third book in a series on American history. The first being “The Light and the Glory” and the second being “From Sea to Shining Sea.” This third book deals with the era of 1837 to 1860. It moves us from the days of John Quincy Adams to The election of Abraham Lincoln. The dark underlying theme of this age was the subject of slavery and the authors make no qualms about the influence Christianity had during this period. Even among the slaves, most were Christian. JQA was the opening gun against slavery and the last Puritan and mortal connection to the founding fathers of the only nation to promote a free republic governed by the consent of the governed that guaranteed to all her citizens the God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our founders saw the providence of God at work in the establishment of the USA. Looking at our history with these authors, it appears as if a divine watchmaker put all the pieces of our national existence in place. The perfect timing of national revivals had great impact on the moral fiber of America. As we move through times of the Mexican War, the California Gold Rush, growth and expansion, people had to decide where they stood on the slavery issue. Is it right or is it wrong? Are we radical abolitionists, free soilers, unionists or disunionists, pro-slavery or anti-slavery, Dred Scott or popular sovereignty? Do we push for immediate emancipation? If so, what do we do with the free slaves? Do we send them back to foreign colonies in Africa? Do we let them try to assimilate into their local community? Should we tolerate slavery where it is for now but not let it increase or spread elsewhere and thereby let it slowly die out? If a man moves from a Slave State to a Free State or Territory, can he take his “property” with him? How shall we determine if Territories newly added to the Union shall be Free States or Slave States? Do we go with the Wilmot Provisio, the Omnibus Bill, the Great Compromise, or secede? There were many more great questions. This is a good read.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great perspective on why the Civil War was fought. I have come to the conclusion, despite all the protestations of the South, that this war was fought solely about slavery. The price in blood was required of this country for the longstanding sin of slavery.

[Rebekah Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. There was so much I didn't know about the years leading up to the Civil War, and it was so good to learn it all from an insightful Christian point of view. I highly recommend this entire series.

[Tammy Webb-witholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This final book takes us further west, with the battles of Texas and Mexico and then the issue of slavery. So well written and readable. Highly recommend.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very eye opener for this southerner

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started reading for summer morning time...krb 6/27/17

I highly recommend all 3 books in this series!..krb 7/26/17

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third volume in Marshall and Manuel’s providential American history series, “God’s Plan for America,” after The Light and the Glory, covering 1492 to 1787, and From Sea to Shining Sea, covering 1767 to 1837, brings to life one of the most crucial epochs in America's history covering the events leading up to and precipitating the Civil War, including the Gold Rush, the Mexican War, the skirmishes of Bleeding Kansas, and the emergence of Abraham Lincoln, with emphasis on the tragic issue of slavery. The biggest complaint which I saw about the book, even by some “conservative, northerner, Christian, homeschoolers” was that “The authors devote virtually all of the discussion of the causes of the Civil War to the single issue of slavery.” I realize that there were other factors that were involved the American Civil War, such as the issues of state's rights and economics, but I too am of the firm belief that if it had not been for the problem of slavery, the other difficulties could have been settled peacefully and politically, and there would have been no war.

Do I agree with all the conclusions that the author’s reach? No, I do not. For example, referring to Theodore Weld’s seventy young, on-fire seminarians which basically began the abolitionist movement, they write that “the fire of the Holy Spirit fell on the Seventy in a way that changed their lives forever.” Reasonable people may disagree as to what part the Holy Spirit might have played in anti-slavery circles, but I am very hesitant in attributing anything to Him apart from divine revelation. At the same time, I do think that any view of American history that does not at least include the possibility of “His story” unfolding in these events is missing something. I agree with William F. Buckley, a conservative hero of mine from earlier days, who said, “Messrs. Marshall and Manuel have put religion back in place in a wonderful depiction of the heady days before the great war.” And I agree with Cal Thomas, a conservative icon of present times, who wrote, “The authors again remind us of the things we’ve left behind and admonish us to go back and pick them up.”

Another criticism of the book is that they authors were biased, but I found them to be eminently fair. Consider their treatment of native Americans. “Did God want the Indians pushed off their hunting g rounds and herded into reservations? These were not easy questions to answer, and only an arrogant fool would claim to be sure of knowing God’s complete plan and intent….But among any people, even some among those who consider themselves Christians, there will be some who are cruel and insensitive.” I especially found the following comparison interesting. In promoting popular sovereignty concerning slavery, Senator Stephen “Douglas had said that freedom was the cornerstone of American democracy….In 1858, the pro-choice argument laid America open to charges of the worst sort of hypocrisy.” What does that tell us about today’s “pro-choice” movement regarding abortion? In fact, I must agree with the authors when, in their comparison of the 1858 Supreme Court decision that slave were not humans with rights to the 1973 Supreme Court decision that unborn babies are not humans with rights, they declare, “Today, if we turn back to God and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, we will experience a similar revival. Hopefully it will reverse our downward slide into a new Dark Age. Even if it does not, it will prepare us for what we must go through.” Amen! It would be interesting to see what Marshall and Manuel might have written about the Civil War, the post-bellum period, and the twentieth century. But, alas, they have both passed on.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost done with high school history for forever!! :-)

[Mark Vann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that was very long. In my opinion could have been shortened without losing much. The thing I appreciated most was that leading up to the civil war the population was mostly against slavery for obvious reasons but the politicians were doing their own thing and so was the media. Not so different from today's times were the country is being hijacked by the same two groups, and the common man and common sense is overlooked.

[Rhonda Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read, although not quite as good as the 2 books that preceeded it. It presents a well-rounded view of the events from the mid-1830's to the Civil War. It gives a good look at the causes of the war. Although the preceeding book, "From Sea to Shining Sea" does a superb job of highlighting the change from seeing slavery as a necessary evil to something that - from the southern point of view - was a positive good, does go deeper into how the 2nd Great Awakening had contributions as well, this rounds out and digs deeper into this! EVERYONE should read Peter Marshall, Jr.'s and David Manuel's 3 books on our early history!!!!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

BW

[Michael Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many excellent stories and much American history. Well written. I thought there would be more concerning the church in America, though they did give some pages to the revival before the civil war.