The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-18
STATE OF, VERMONT ".-
a PROCLAMATION,
ny THE GOVERNOR.

BY THE GOVERNOR.
A thoughtful survey of our past lives and
Conduct must ever present to our view album
dant reason for repentance and self abase-
ment. Our ingratitude to the Giyer Of all
good for the nnnumbered blessings which We
have been continually receiving from His gra-
cious hand, and our numerous violations OF
His holy law,appear before us to fill our souls
with confusion and shame, and warning us
that we have exposed ourselves to the right
eous judgments Of heaven Judgments which
we cannot hope to escape, ukleSs by timely
repentance and humbling ourselves before
God the lust anger Of the Almighty be turn
ed away. And to the exercise OF such re-
pcntance and humiliation we are the more
urgently and impres5lvely admonished when
the judgments of God are, as now, so mani
festly abroad in some portions of the earth.
do, therefore, hereby appoint Friday the
second day Of April next, to be observed
throughout this State as day of PUBLIC HU-
INITIATION, FASTING AND PRAYER. And
/ recommend to the people of this State to
lay aside, on that day. all recreations and pur,
suits inconsistent with the proper observance
of such an OCCASION.
Let lis, on that day, in our public places of
worship,and in our private dwellings ,humbly
confess our sins, both as individuals and as a
people; our ingratitude for the blessings that
have been conferred upon us, and all our lu-
merous departures from the path of duty
And while we humbly implore forgiveness for
all our offences, through Christ our Redeem
en- let US resolve in the strength of Divine
Grace to break off from our iniquites, that
we may keep such Fast as will be accepta-
bic to the Lord.
And, incumbent as it is, upon US ever to
be afflicted in the Affections of our lellowmen,
let US not on this occasion, forget the condi-
ton of those vino are now suffering from fam
inc and all the various ills which ordinarily
follow in Its train. Let us recognize the hand
Of Heaven in this infliction, and remember
thatit may designed, not only to remind
us of our dependence upon God, but to give
exercise to our deep sympathies with our fell
low men, and to teach the nations a lesson of
charity and kindness. Let us therefore not
think Of contentng ourselves by saying to
these, our hungering brethren, " be We ted;'
but, according to, the means which God has
given US, let us contribute freely to their re-
lief; trusting that the foEbearing Mercy Of
our God may now be ready to say to the des-
troying Angel, it is enough" and that moth
ing waits but that we should do the work
which Heaven assigns US. Thus may we be
prepared to pray in sincerity and in faith,
that the supplies which we have aided to fur
nish may be borne safely and speedily across
the deep, restoring gladness to hearts from
which it has long been stranger, and stay
ing the desolating progress Of that sore dis
tress under which nation mourns,
And let US, for ourselves, look heedfully to
our own ways, and endcavor fully to learn
the will Of the Most High, lest in turn He lay
His heavy hand upon us also. Let us so
humble ourselves before Him, and so heed
the admonitions which His dealings are de-
signed to give, that we may not need to be
ourselves visited with His sore chastsements !
before we shall suitably learn that great truth
which He designs the nations of the earth
should learn and know the truth that there is
a God in Heaven. Let us endeavor more |
constantly to recognize His benefcence as
ever active in providing for our welfare, and |
as necessary to give furtherance and success
to all our plans and purposes of good--a be- |
nedcence OF which we are prone to be more T
unmindful, because its bounties have been
wont 10 come down to Us in neyertailing !!
streans. |
And thus deeply impressed with q sense of
our unceasing dependence on the preserving !
goodness of our Heavenly Father, let US pray
that His smiles may rest upon the labors of
the coming year; that blasting and mildew
may not cut off the fruits Of the earth, but
that the kindly influences Of sun and shower
may be given to bring them to maturity, so
that the husbandman, sowing the seed in hope |
may reap his harvest with abundant Joy.
Let US pray, also, that there be no dearth |
among us Of spiritual blessings but that all
our churches may be visited with rich efu-
sions of Heavenly grace; that the Gospel may
be embraced by mulhtudes who now refuse
obedience to its holy requirements and that
religion, pure and indebted, may take root
and thrive in all our hearts, and exert its be-
iiign influence upon all our conduct.
Let US pray that all our valuable insttu-
tons may be preserved ard prospered, and
that the cherished privileges and blessings
which flow from them may not only be per-
petuated to US, but he difuscd and extended
to all our brethren Of the human race.
And finally, let us pray that war and strife,
that injustice and oppression, and immortality
and vice of every name and character, may
be driven from our land, and that we may
become, in all our ways, such people as the
Lord will ever delight to own, to prosper and
to bless.
Given under my hand at Enosburgh,
this tenth day Of March, in the year of
L 8. our Lord one thousand eight hundred
:. and forty-seven and of the Independ-
ence Of the United States the seventy.
first.
~ HORACE EATON.
By the Governor,
FREDEprcK BILLINGS Sec'5