The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-26
STATE OF VERMONT.
A PROCLAMATION.
BY THE GOVERNOR.

The springing of the year is specially
suited to remind US ofour dependence, aud
bring US into The attitude Of humility be-.
fore God We have been sustained bv
Him through the seventies of another
winter, and brought to the opening of the
season, on whose fruitfulness we are to de-
pend for our future subsistence. The
earth with its power of production, is His.
The sun shines, and the rain descends, by
His ordinance. He openelh His hand,
| and we are filled with good; He hideth
His face, and we are troubled; He takelh
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 penilen,, hum>
Bile, confiding, and grateful spirit, 1 do re-
commend that FRIDAY the TENTH
DAY OF APRIL next, be observed as
day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer
throughout this State; and that the people
thereof DO attend, on that day, 10 those OBJ
servances which may. according to the
approval of their own consciences in the
sight of God, render it such fast as He
hath chosen, and make it an acceptable day
10 the Lord.
Let US, in deep humility. confess our
individual sins, the sins ofthis community,
and the sins of this Nation, before God
and that we may do it the mole accepla-
bly,, let US open the volume that reveals
His will, read it with a teachable spirit,
and mark the broad extent of its holy and
just demands upon human obedience.
With this pure and perfec! standard be-
fore us-the gift OF which demands Jour
unceasing gralitude-let.us earnestly en-
quire why it exerts so little practical inAu-
ence upon our ives,-why the objects of
sense so absorb our affections, and COM
maud our energies, while those of faith,
so realise transcendent in importance land
so enduring in their relations 10 our high.
est coed, make so feeble and transient an
impression on us.
Let those who profess and call them>
selves Christians, make this an occasion
for considering the deep and solemn i'm
port of the Christian profession,-what it
becomes them to do, in order 10 be truly
the followers of Christ whether any SER
vice but that of the whole heart can be &C.
ceplable 10 Him: and whether that does
not involve singleness of purpose, self
denial aud spirit of conservation, far
above the standard at which they pracli.
cally aim.
Let our prayers ascend to Heaven for
the church universal that it may every,
where come I'm to this higher standard.
and thus become truly the light of the
world. The faithful Representative Of
Chris, upon earth engaging in his SER
vice in the spirit of entire CONSIDERATION, and
illustrating and recommending The rei-
gion 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 go down into the depths of
human misery, and that are ready to labor
and to suffer, as well as pray for the good
of man.
Let us bear on our hearts, with pecul-
af affection and solicitu1e, the interests of
this commonwealth. Let us pray for the
blessing OF Heaven on The efforts TO
develope its mineral, agricultural,
Intellectual and moral resources,-especi>
ally invoking the Divine blessing on the
efforts 10 elevate the standard of education
among US, and give 10 our children the
mental and moral training which shall fit
them for the duties aud responsibilities ofO
Christian Republic.