The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-03-19
GommuantaItb Of aSassatbasstts.
A PROCLAMATION
For a day Of Fasting, Humiliation,
and Pr0ger.
SdchusettS.

For ddy q FGstang, I1omaadtaOn,
and Prayer.
OUR dependence on GoD for all the.
blessings Of this life, and for the hopes
which the gospel inspires of blissful
Immortality, justly calls for an express
sion of the most profound and devout
sentiments of religious homage from us,
who are the daily recipients Of His prov
idential munifcence, and humble candi-
dates for His future acceptation and IA
YOUR. And the season having returned,
In which, from time immemorial, the
people of this community have devoted
a day to the publick worship of GoD, by
fasting and prayer, and more especially
for invoking the blessings of ALMIGHTY
Con on all their concerns for the passing
year
have thought fit TO appoint, and by.
and with the consent of the Council, do
hereby appoint THURSDAY, the Sd
day of April next, to be observed as
day of FASTING IND PRAYER,
throughout the Commonwealth. And
the people of every religious denomina-
tion are requested 10 assemble on that
day, in their respectivep places ofpublick
worship, unitedly to humble themselves,
and to confess their sins before GoD-to
implore his pardoning mercy through
the mediation of His Son JESUS CHRIST,
and the promised aid of His Spirit TO all
such as seek him in sincerity and in
truth, to enable them to bring forth
fruits meet for repentance. That He
will be pleased to bless and prosper the
people of this Commonwealth in their
agriculture and fisheries, there com
merce and manufactures, and in all their
lawful enterprises: That He will in
mercy so order the seasons of the year,
that the earth may yield its increase, and
the Joy of harvest be felt in every bab-
itation, and in every heart: That He
will be pleased to preserve them from
the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
and from the destruction that wasteth at
MONDAY: That He will smile on our
University, our Colleges, and other Sem
inaries and Schools of learning; on all
our religious, literary, and benevolent
institutions, and on the rising genera
ton: That He will be pleased to contin-
ne to us our free constitutions of civil
government, and the full enjoyment of
our holy religion, and grant that its be-
nign influence may be more deeply felt,
and more fully exemplifed by its pro-
fessors: That He will vouchsafe His
blessing to the President of the United
States; That He will prosper the ma
tional government, and continue to our
country the blessings of union and peace {;
That all institutions, whether national
or state, founded on the great principles
of philanthropy, and designed to melio-
rate the condition Of the human kind, by
rescuing them from barbarism, improv-
ing the arts of life, and spreading the
knowledge of God, and the way to OBJ
tain His favour and future happiness,
may experience largely the divine sup
port and benediction; and that the whole
earth may ultimately be filled with the
glory of God.
ana the people are requesteu 10 do-
stain from all labour and recreation, in
consistent with the religious solemnities
of the day.
Given at the Council Chamber, in Boston,
this fifth day Of March, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty three, and of the Independence Of
the United States Of America, the forty
seventh.
JOHN BROOKS.
By His Excellency the Governour, with the
advice and consent of the Council,