The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-03-31
STATE OF VERMONT.
A PrOClamati ton.
ny THE GOVERNOR.

Pentenee, humiliation and prayer are at once the
uty and The privilege of guilty, dependent man,
While the Almighty knoweth the proud nfar of,
standing towards them in the attitude Of inhexibe
justice, he delightcth to dwell with the humble and
the contriie and promises to the poor in spirit, the
richest and the pures, of all conceivable blessings
And with repentance and humiliation he connects,
also, blessings to communities the turning a
way fiom them Of deserved wrath and threatened
Judgments cat what time shall speak concern
ing nation and concerning kingdom, to pluck up
and 20 pull down and destroy it, If that nation against
whom have pronounced, turn from their evil. wilI
repent of the evil that thought to do unto them"
BY such motives we, individuals, and as
community, invited and encouraged to humble our
selves before God, and seek his favor and his bless
ing, through Christ our Redeemcr.
do, therefore, in accordance with the halowed
custom derived from purtan fathers, and mpelI
ed by q sense Of need Of the Divine forgiveness
and blessing hereby appoint FRIDAY, TIE ELEv-
ENTu DAY OF APRIL NEXT, to be observed by
the people of this State, a day of fasting huma-
ton and prayer. And do earnestly recommend to
them suspension, that day, Of all labor and
reaon, inconsistent with just Of the necessi-
ty, and the purpose of its observance.
Let US, that day. as individuals, in plnces of
retirement, families around domestic affairs,
and u community, in the places consecrnted TO
public devotion, make confession OF sin, impore for
giveness, and promise amendment. Let it be made
an occasion of thorough individual seC-examnation,
and tt2ughtfu consideration Of the public sins, both
of our own community and of the milton Of which il
forms pnrt-takng standard Of Judgment
the Word of the living God, in its plain direct and
comprehensive teachings. And let nsk God to
search us, and to search his nation to show
individual sins and the nation its transgressons; and
to lead us, and the natien TO true repentanco-the
repentance which consists in actual turning from
evil, undong Of wrong, and doing that which is right
in the sight of the 5o.d,
Let it afflict US when we survey the desolatons Of
Zion; when we see how few up to her solemn
feasts; when we consider how little she possesses Of
the sefdenying spirit Of her Master and Lord: and
when behold, every where, the love Of pleasure
and the lust OF gain absorbing much Of the ener-
gies demanded for the high and holy purpose Of min
isterng to human want, and mitigating human wo
And with our confessions of sin let there be ming
led the charities Of the gospel-drawing out our hearts
in compassion for the ignorant and degraded, sympa-
thy for the oppressed, and efforts Cor the highest good
of ALL And let us consider that citations will be
vain, and even multitude OF sacrifices to purpose
unless put away the evil Of our dongs. cease to
do evil and learn to do WELL Let the fast be such
as God hath chosen-to osse the bands Of wicked
ness undo the heavy burdens and break every yoke;
90 deal our bread to the hungry, bring into hous-
es the poor that cast out and hide not ourselves
from our own flesh, that light may break forth
as the morning, our health spring forth speedily our
righteousness go before u.s. and the glory of tho Lord
become our rere-ward.
And finally, let pray that through the influence
ofthe Divine Spirit, efficacy may be given to truth
pure and indebted religion be rovived--men, every
where, be reclaimed from sin, and the world be
brought back to its allegiance to Heaven, and elevat
ed to the dignity and blessedness Of communion with
its Creator and Lord.
Given under my hand at Middlebury, this fifteenth
day of March, in the year Of our Lord one thou