Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-03-21
state OF Vermont.
Bi CIIlRlES K. WILLIAMS.
GOVERNOR
4 HsEsDCA y VE.XTEfbN

HH|HG t|tt 4 jVEt|'
The continued mercy Of ALMIGHTY Con to
us as People. while it calls tor great thqnk-
tulness. should ais lead Us to dep penllencr
an contrluon for our numerous and multiplied
trans rre>sion, an sn5. So obvIou. is the duty
of pcmtcntial cunicSso on and contrltlDn that the
Christian churches of every denomination hay g
set apart certain days for abstinence and
prlvcr. In addition to tine services appointed
hv the churches the civil gOVcrmcn, Of the
New ENGLAND States have been ever accus-
toned in the spring ofthr year to appoint a day
for General and Public Fast, to implore the
Divine blessing on their labors. This season
is now approaching and calls for our annual
devotions, humiliation, and prayer appropriate
t. the commencement of the labOrs of the hlIs-
bandman.
Deeply revcrenclng this religious custom of
our foretathers; sensible otthp great and asting
benefits which We have derived from them: Of
the blessings which have been so album lantIv
bestowed on us Of our ngratiude aud sin in
not acknowledging the hand Of God in these
mcrcles, and in not conforming our lives to the
requirements ofhs Holy w ord: have thought
proper to appoint, and do hereby appoint, FRr-
DAY, THE FOURTH DAY or APRrL NExT to be
observed by the people of this State Il. day
of PUBMC lluNILIATIoN, Fasting AND
PPAYFR; inl request ministers and people Of
every denomination TO assemble on that day III
the r respective houses of public worship. and
confess to Almighty God their manifold trans
gressions Of HIS will, their neglect of His pre-
,cepts and commands their torgetfulness of the
manifestations of his mercy, their rebellion
against His righteous government, their sin in
not do NO the things which they ought to have
done, and in doing the things which they ought
not tG have done: And at the same time hum
bv to bcscech Him to grant that we may truly
and sincerely repent of these our tranSgressions
and turn 10 the | ord in deep humiliation and
earnest prayer, duplicating Him to continue His
merciPs To MS notwithstanding our backslldmgs !;
that He would bless the government the
United States. and of this State, and rcpress all
disorders ard dScord among us that he would
cause all, iE every department of government,
whether legislative, executive, or Judicial, to
remcmbrrthlt they arc in the immediate pres
,cnce of Him without whose knowledge not
sparrow falletA tG the ground, that they are ac-
cnuntable to Him Tor ali their actions, and,
under sense Of this accountability, that they
may never countcnance oppression, vice OF i'm
morality, or any thiDg injurious to the rights
and Liberties of men, or any thing inconsistent
with the reatcn in wkleh man stands to his
Maker: llnt the people may yield due obedl-
cnce to AL the la.'tul requirements of those IN
authority, indulge IN no spfIt of insubordma-
1lon or taetouS opposition, remembering that
lie, who HAS the hearts Gf rdlers and people in
iils hand, may, IN answer he their requests and
PRAYER, guido Is such cRuRcil, and the adoption
~ such measures rs viii rnsurc tho pcacc and
h"Fpluc,' Of tho people OF lin State. aud of