Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-03-25
A Patriots PRAYER.

The fpliowing appropriate prayer, as
reported BY Mrs. Buffum, was made at the
opening of services in the Methodist
Church IN this city. on the 22d Of February,
by the Rev. II. Crews:
Almighty God Of our Fathers! In thy
gracious Providence, through their instru-
mentality. thou hast given US country
and gorernment which we are permitted
this day to call our own. We have met
together;to celebrate the birth day Of the
chief man among our Fathers, through
whose exertions and brave defences and
unfirinE eHorts, thou hast blest and favored
us with this government and hast bestowed
upon Us their combined wisdom and states
waniIka counsels and the present constitu
ton which We still regard as the purest and
the besi that human beings ever devised.
Alas that we should live in day Of strife
and c,1iI war when misguided and illdi-
rectec men have sought to overthrow our
geyeru1ueHt and break UP those bonds of
doion ti,sf have long exisred-and in the
existence of which We have heped and can
only hope for the perpetuity of our nation.
Ou- Father, we earnestly entreat Thee
10 be with all that are here present, and
all who are elsewhere assembled to honor
the e1riversary of Washington's BIRTH
Give US, to day, moment of serious thought
in relation to the worth of our government.
Forgive, we pray Thee, all acts of impru~
dence, aud Improper words of citizens as to
who have been the occasion Of this strife.
And actuate the feelings of the people, that
in this hour Of solemnity that carries them
back to the past, they may be enabled to
aiofa
advice that has been given them. And, to
day, while Washington's Farewell Address
shall be read to us, may we feel that althO'
he is dead, he yet speaketh. May his words
60 down into our hearts May we hear his
counsels and attend to them seriously and
faithfully. May each individual in the
! United States be actuated to that course Of
conduct that shall be likely to give to cur
government strong and perpetual bonds
| that shall never be severed. Have mercy
upon all misguided and mistaken subjects
Of this government, many of whom have
thrown off their allegiance TO it, have divided
| it's power and armed themselves for it's
overthrow, and are going forth to meet
those in battle whom they suppose are
unkind and have said bard things about
them. Oh God, pity and graciously pre-
serve those true Union and patriotic men
who have suffered for no crime but simply
because of their love for the constitution
and its freedom and the tights and privi>
leges that 1t guarantees to its citizens. VIII
thou graciously reward them for their
labors and affiictiOns-and when war shall
cease and peace be restored and all mer
shall return to their allegiance-may those
patriotic men be spected-may their loss
be fully made up in the restoration ofpeace
and fraternity. And may we, who are
more fayorably situated, be true to oul
God, as We are true to our country. May
rebellion to his laws be as rebellion to thin
civil government-and while our patriotism
has called all rebelliOus subjects to return
to their allegiance and to submit to civi
authority-so may we seek in humble
prayer to subject ourselves TO the spirItua
kingdom and the reign Of righteousness.
Give us thy blessing, to day, while VI
are rejoicing as we have in years past, aDt
as we hope to in time to cume. May on
our rejoicing be in humility and in the fea
of God. Let US not blindly conceiv
Z that :hes recent tzinmps of our arms i
= Z ttfe result OF human courage, but lie
Us acknowledge Thee the Omnipotent-th
omulclent. Let US remember that GU
soldiers are courageOus-and that it is CO.
that gives them courage and sustains then
in the battle field
We pray Thee that those who ar
in rebellion against our government ma
lay down their arms and wisely return t
their allegiance. May there be no NOR
carnage 5loOdshed and distress in on
land May all unite heart and hand unde
the floating banner of cur liberties.
We ask thy blessing this day. an
for evermore, through Jesus Christ
Amen,