Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-10-17
DO THEREFORE,, agreeably to the invar-

| DO THEREFORE, agreeably to the invari-
able usage in this State, and with the advice end
consent of the Council, appoint THURSDAY, the
First Day Of December next, to be observed as a
day of public THANKSGIVING and PRAYER;
and the people are requested to meet together in
their several places of worship that day, that we
may offer unto GOD our united tribute of Thanks
giving and Prsise, and present HIM the acceptable
sacrifice of pentent and aectionate hearts and be-
seech HIM, that spirit of true devotion may ac-
company in joint offices of religious worship,
and that He would accept our humble and grateful
Acknowledgements for the personal and public bless
ings He has conferred upon u.s.
For his favour for this land, in the time of our
Fathers when HE defended them from the greatest
dangers and delivered them out of the greatest dis
tresses and for all his merciful interpretations in be-
half of the people of this State within our own
memory For the health which generally prevails
through the State, and for the various fruits which
the earth has produced the past season, by which
our wants are comfortably supplied For the pro-
lection he has afforded to many of our exposed
Towns on the sea-coast For the support he has
vouchsafed to us as individuals, and the relief he
has afforded us in times of want and dasger And
| above all for the wonderful scheme of Salvation
which he has devised, and the transcendsnt display
of his love and grace in the redemption of mankind
by the gift of Hrs Son.
AT the same time let us recognize with gratitude
| the goodness of Con to other nations; and adore
| the wisdom Of HIS Providence which has over
ruled the ambition and wickedness of men, to SUBJ
serve HIS own gracious purposes, and accomplish
the deliverance and safety of great part of the
Christian word That under HIS influence, the al
lied Princes Of Europe, forgetting their mutual diff
erences united humble the pride and restrain the
| ambition of the great destroyer of mankind; and
that peace is restored to the oppressed nations
the continent of Europe.
But while we thankfully celebrate the goodness
of GoD to ourselves and others, it becomes us
with deep contrition, to humble ourselves before
HIM for our multiplied transgressions, and tokens
of his righteous anger, in still affecting with the
calamities of distressing war, which threatens to
| mpoversh our country and by which the lives of
| many of our fellow-ctizens have been destroyed,
been made miserable And, to beseech HIM. that
he would prevent the judgments that threaten us,
and purify us from sins, which have caused his
heavy displeasure against us: That He would make
| US understand wherein we have erred and not suf-
fer us to walk in way Of injustice and deceit, un-
ill ii terminates in ruin: That liz would put an end
to the miseries of the present war, and in the
time defend our exposed towns from destructive
ravages, and guard the lives and property of our
citizens: hat with deep humility may accept
the punishment of our niquties, and patiently bear
His Indignation because have sinned against
HIM: And that by the gloomy prospect before us,
we may be led to place unfeigned reliance
HIN who rules in the kingdom of men, and whose
favor and prntection the only means Of our
safety:
That He would pres erve and bless the United
States, and lead them in a course of integrity and
truth: That He would direct the President and
Congress, and all who are in authority, to such
measures shall tend to the peace and prosperity
of the People: That the Rulers of both the con-
tending nations may be disposed to cherish friendly
sentiments, and establish peace upon just and equt
able terms; That he would preserve the UNION of
these States; and that we may yet see our country
peaceable habitation--a quiet resting place:
THAT He would succeed the attempts which are
made to convey the knowledge Of the Gospel to
the most distant heather nations; and that we may
soon rejoice in fairer prospect of that period,
when we shall more hear the sound Of the trump
et-the alarm of war ; when the wilderness and the
solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall be
glad and rejoice as the rose when the glory of the
LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall il to-
gcther.
AND the People are requested 10 abstain from
unnecessary labor and unsuitable recreatons on the
said day.
Giuen at the Council Chamber, IN Boston, this
eiereth day Of October, IN the gear Of Our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and four
teen, and in The hirty-ninth gear Of the Inde-
pe,,denee Of the United States Of America.
CALEB STRONG.
BY his ErcelLency the Gorernor,
uith the adrice and consent Of the Council
AInEN RRAnEORn