Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-26
STATE OF VERMONT.
A PR0CL A NJ A TON.
BY THE GOVERNOR.

The spring OF the year is especially suited to remind
us of dependence and bring into the attitude of
humility before God We have been sustained BY
Him through the seventies of another winter and
brought to the opening of the season. on whose fruit
tuness we are to depend for our future subsistence
The earth with its power of production is His The
sun shines, and the rain descends, by his ordinance.
He openeth his hand, and we are filed with good =
He hideth his face and we are troubled; He
taketh away our breath, and we return to dust
That we may the more deeply feel the force of these
truths, and enter upon the labors of the year. with
pentent humble, confdng, and grateful spirit, do
recommend that FRIDAY, the TENTH DAY OF
APRIL next, be observed as day of Fasting, HUI
initiation, and Prayer throughout this State; and that
the people thereof do attend on that day. to those OBJ
Iservances which may, according to the approval of
their own conscences in the sight of God render it
such fast as He hath chosen, and make it an accept
able day to the Lord.
Let us, in deep humility confess our individual sins,
the sins of this community, and the sins of this Ma
ton, before God and that we may do it the more &C
cepably let us open the volume that reveals His will
read 1t with teachabe spirit and mark the broad ex-
tent of its holy and Just demands upon human obedi-
ence.
With this pure and perfect standard before us-the
gift of which demands our unceasing gratude-let us
earnestly enquire why it eXerts so little practical nll-
ence upon our llVes-why the objects of sense so alb
sorb our affections, and command our energies while
those of faith, so rcalso ranscendan in Importance
and so enduring in their relations to highest good
make so feeble and transient an impression on us.
Let those who profess and call themselves Christians
make this an occasion for considering the deep and
solemn import of the christian professions it be-
comes them to do, in order to be truly the followers Of
Christ,-whether any service but that of the whole
heart can be acceptable to Him. and whether that does
not involve sngeness of purpose, self denial and
spirit of conservation, far above the standard at which
they practically aim.
Let our prayers ascend to Heaven for the Church
universal-that it may everywhere come up to this
higher Standard and thus become truly the light of the
world the faithful Representative of Christ upon
earth-engagng in his service III the spirit of entire
conservation, and illustrating and recommending the
religion He taught, by the well doing which can alone
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Let us pray for the whole world with hearts which
90 down into the depths of human misery and that are
ready to labor, and to suffer, well pray, for the
! good of man.
Let us bear on our hearts, with peculiar affection
and solIcitude the interests of this Commonwealth
Let pray for the blessing of Heaven on the efforts
to deveope its mineral, agricultural intellectual and
moral resources, especially invoking the Divine bless
ing the efforts to elevate the standard of education
among us, and give to our children the mental and
moral training which shall fit them for the duties and
responsibilities Of a Christian Republic.
Let us pray ferventy for this Nation-that wise and
understanding hearts may be given to its ruers-that
they may be Just men, ruling in the fear of God; and
that both Rulers and People may habituay recognize
the government of God in the affairs of men, and be
impressed with the TRUTH that neither great wealth. MOI
extended national domain, nor formidable means Of
defence, nor all combined can so exalt and protect a
nation, as Righteousness and the spirit of Peace and
that however high may be our apparent prosperity, the
day of adversely will surely come if we do not listen
to the voice of God and obey His will-for that il
will forever remain true that the nation and kingdom
that will not serve Him. shall be utterly wasted and
shall perish.
And finally, let us pray that God would inspire the
rulers & people ofths nation & the rulers and people
of every nation, with the charity of the Gospel-the
spirit that overcometh evil with good to the end that
wars may utterly and that the mighty energies
that have long been perverted to the purpose of hui
man butchery, may be employed in cutivating the
arts of peace-in teaching men to love one another
and in sending the gospel with its redeeming inhuen
ces and Astounding blessing to every abode of men.
Given under my hand at Middlebury this fourteenth
day of March, in the year of our Lord thousand
eight hundred and forty six and of the independence
Of the United States the SEVENTEEN.
l WILLIAM SLADE.
By the Governor,
Gro. r. RFAMAN CpcreIoru