Furnace of Affliction

"It is the will of heaven that the two countries should be sundered forever. It may be the will of heaven that America shall suffer calamities still more wasting and distresses yet more dreadful. If this is to be the case, it will have this good effect, at least: it will inspire us with many virtues which we have not, and correct many errors, follies and vices, which threat to disturb, dishonor and destroy us... The furnace of affliction produces refinements in states, as well as individuals."

John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, the day after Continental Congress approval of the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams spent a lifetime in service to the US.

• Member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
  
• Urged Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence
• Nominate George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
• US minister to France, helping to negotiate the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain to end the Revolutionary War
• Negotiated first major recognition of American independence by the Dutch
  
• First US Minister to Great Britain
• Main author of the Constitution of Massachusetts
• First Vice President of the United States under President George Washington
  
• Second President of the United States
  

1 Corinthians 3:13 (Amplified Bible)

13The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.