Benjamin Franklin's Call for Daily Prayer

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. An if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that, without his concurring air, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.