Gettysburg Address ... easy question? maybe

[Gene C]

There is a thin line on that viewpoint that I will politely disagree with Ed on, when it comes to Lincoln's view of God. I may be misunderstanding the point Ed is making.
The teachings emphasized in the New Testament (which come from God) are frequently used in Lincoln's writing and speeches. The fact that Lincoln uses more Old Testament passages doesn't necessarily mean he had deist theology all through his life, those passages he quotes just might have been more appropriate to add emphasis to the point he was making and be familiar to his audience.

For example, Lincoln's "house divided" speech based upon a phrase used by three different writers of the gospels in the New Testament.

Matthew 12:25
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Mark 3:25
If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Luke 11:17
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

Lincoln refers to many passages of the Bible in his speeches and conversation, both from the New and Old Testament. The Old Testament has more poetry (the Psalms and Proverbs) and action stories with principles to them, which Lincoln seemed to enjoy and use to emphasize a point. Lincoln's many comments and personal example of forgiveness is a biblical principle mentioned in both Old and New Testaments, and more strongly emphasized (IMO) in New Testament teaching.