Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-26
STATE OF VERMONT.
A PROCLAMATION.
BY THE GOVERNOR.

The sprngng of the year is especially suited to
remind us of our dependence and bring us 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 tho season,
on whose frultfulness we are to depend for our fi
iure subsistence. The earth with its power of pro-
duction, is His The sun shines, and the rain de.
scends by his ordnance lie openeth his hand, and
we are filled with good He hideh his face and we
are troubled; lie takeh 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 penitent, humble, confding, and grateful
spirit do recommend that FRIDAY, the TENTH
DAY OF APRIL next, be observed day of
Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer throughout this
State; and that the people thereof do attend, on
that day, to those observances which may, accord
ing TO the approval of their consciences in the
sight of God, render it such fast as He hath chos
en-, and make it an acceptable day to the Lord.
Let us, in deep humility, confess our individual
sins, the sins of this community, and the sins of
this Nation, before God and that we may do it the
more acceptably, let us open the volume that re.
veals His will, read it with teachable spirit and
mark the broad extent of its holy and Just demands
upon human obedience.
With this pure and perfect standard before US
the gift of which demands our unceasing gratitude
let us earnestly enquire why it exelts so little
practical influence upon our ves,-why the objects
Of sense so absorb our affections, and command our
energies while those of faith, realso transcen.
dant in importance, and so enduring in their rela-
tons to our highest good make SO feeble and tram
sient an impression on us.
Let those who profess and call themselves Chris
tians, make this occasion for considering the
deep and solemn import ofthc Christian profession,
what 1t becomes 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 a sngeness OF
purpose, efdenial, and spirit of conservation,
far above the standard at which they particularly
aim.
Let our prayers ascend to Heaven for the Church
unlversal-that it may everywhere come up to this
higher standard and thus become truly the light Of
the word-the faithful Representative of Christ
upon earth-engaging in his service in the spirit oil
entire conservation, and Illustrating and recommen.
ding the 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 90 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 peculiar affection
and solicitude, the interests Of this Commonwealth
Let us pray for the blessing of Heaven the eff
forts to develope its mineral agricultural, intellec
tual and moral resources- especially invoking the
Divine blessing on the efforts to elevate the stan
dard of education among us, and give to our chill
dren the mental and moral training which shall iii
them for the duties and responsibilities of citizens
of Christian Republic.
Let US pray fervently for this Nation-that wise
and understanding hearts may be given to its rul
ers--that they may be just men, ruling in the feal
Of God and that both Rulers and People may ha.
bitually recognize the government of God in the
affairs of men, and be impressed with the truth, that
neither great wealth, nor extended national domain
nor formidable means of defence, nor all combined
can so eXalt and protect nation. as Righteousness
and the spirit of Peace; and that however high may
be our apparent prosperity, the day of adversely vii
surely come if we do not listen to the voice of God
and obey His wil-for that it will forever remain
true, that the nation and kingdom that will not serve
| Hin, shall be utterly wasted and shall perish.
And finally, let us pray that God would inspire
the Rulers and People of this nation, and the Rul
ers and People of every nation with the charity o
| the Gospel-the spirit that overcometh evil witt
| good to the end that wars may utterly cease, ant
that the mighty energies that have so long been per
verted to the purpose of human butchery, may bt
employed in cultvating the arts of peace-ln teach
| ing men to love one another, and in sending tn
gospel, with its redeeming influences and abound
ing blessings, to every abode OF man.
Given under my hand at Middlebury this four
teenth day of March, in the year of our Lord on
thousand eight hundred and iortyslx, and of til
! Independence of the United States the seventeen
\ WILLIAM SLADE
By the Governor.