Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-04-04
STATE OF VERMONT.
A ROCLAMATION

Penitence, humiliation and prayer are at once the du
y and the privilege of guilty, dependent man. While
the Almighty knoweth the proud afar Off standing to-
wards them in the attitude Of inexibe Justice he de.
lighteth TO dwell with the humble and the conrte and
promises to the poor in spirit the richest and pures
all conceivable blessings, And with repentance and
humiliation he connects, also, blessings to communities
even the turning away from them of deserved wrath
and threatened Judgments "At what time shall speak
concerning nation and concerning Kingdom to
pluck up and pull down and destroy it, f that nation
gainst whom have pronounced, turn from their evil
will repent OF the evil that thought do unto them
BY such motives are We as individuals and a COM
munty invited and encouraged to humble ourselves be-
fore God, and seek his favor and his blessing through
Christ our Redeemer
do therefore, in accordance with the hallowed Gus
tom derived from puritan fathers and impelled by
of need of the Divine forgiveness and bless
ing, hereby appoint FRIDAY, THE ELEVENTH
DAY OF APRIL NEXT, to be observed by the people
OF this State as day Of fasting humiliation and pray.
er. And do earnestly recommend to them suspen-
sion on that day. of all labor and recreation, inconsis-
tent with just Of the necessity and the purpose
of its observance
retirement as families, around domestic affairs and
as community, in the places censecrated to public de-
vonon, make confession of SIM implore forgiveness,
and promise amendment Let II be made an occasion
OF thorough individual differentiation and thought
fu consideration Of the public sins, both of our own
sSg o9 Y asd IF the %a90 n "f "S
ings And let US ask God to search u.s. and to search
this nation to show individual sins and the ma
uon It's uansgressiOns and to lead and the nation
true repentance-the repentance which consists in an
actual turning from evil, undong Of wrong and doing
that which IS right in the sight Of the Lord.
Let II afiict us when survey the desolations of
Zion; when we see how few come up to her solemn
ieasts when consider how little she possesses of
the sclfdenying spirit of her Master and Lord und
when we behold every where the love Of pleasure and
the lust OF gain absorbing much Of the energies de-
manded for the high and holy purpose of mnisernQ TO
human want, and mitigating human wo.
And with our confessions Of sin let there be mingled
the charities Of the gospeldrawing out our hearts in
for the oppressed and efforts for the highest good Of ali
And let consider that obations will be vain and e.
ven multitude OF sacrifices to no purpose unless we
put away the evil of doings cease to do evil and
learn TO do well. Let the fast be such as God hath
chosen--to loose the bands of wickedness, undo the
heavy burdens and break every yoke to deal our bread
10 the hungry, bring into houses the poor that are
cast out and hide not ourselves from our own flesh so
that our light may break forth the morning. our health
spring forth speedily our righteousness go before u.s.
and the glory OF the Lord become our reward.
And finally let US pray that, through the influence of
he DIVINE Spint, efficacy may be given TO truth-pure
and indebted religion be revivcd-men, every where
be reclaimed from SIM and the world be brought back 10
It's allegiance to Heaven and elevated to the dignity
and blessedness Of communion with its Creator and
Lord $3.50
Given under my hand at Middlebury, this fifteenth
day of March, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight hundred and forty-ive and of the INDIE
Pendence of the United States the sixty ninth
WILLIAM SLADE.
GEo. II. BEAMAN Sec'y.