Colony of the
Massachusetts-Bay.
A PROCLAMATION
FOR A
GENERAL FAST.
IT having pleased the Alwise, Righteous and Holy Sovereign of the World, to testify his Displeasure AMERICAN Colonies in general, and this PROVINCE in particular, by permitting the British Administration most arbitrarily to devise, and endeavor to carry into Execution, such oppressive, ruinou? Measures, as have obliged US, after reasonable Overtures for Love and Peace, repeatedly made, and as often contemptuously rejected, to draw the Sword in Defence of our just Rights and Liberties; and to prevent, if it shall seem good in GOD's Sight, our being reduced to a State of abject Slavery and Misery!--And it being, at such a Time, the Duty, especially of a People prosessing Faith in the superintending Providence of GOD, to make known their Requests to Him, by Supplication and Prayer, penitently confessing their Sins, humbly acknowledging their ultimate Dependance on Heaven, and importunately beseeching the Almighty to direct their Councils, and succeed their Arms; so that the great and good End, for which they were taken up, the Security of their Rights and Priviledges, both civil and religious, which they so highly value and esteem, may be speedily and happily accomplished.
WE, therefore, have thought sit, with the Advice, and at the Desire of the House of Representatives, to set apart, and do hereby appoint THURSDAY, the Seventh Day of March next, to be observed as a Day of Humiliation Fasting and Prayer, throughout this Colony; earnestly calling upon Ministers and People, of all Denominations, to meet for religious Worship on said Day; and as with one Heart and Voice, to confess and lament our multiplied and aggravated Sins;--to resolve, in the Strength of CHRIST, to forsake them;--and ardently to implore the Forgiveness of them, and the kind Interposition of the Supreme Ruler, in our Behalf, in this Day of uncommon Darkness and Perplexity. In Special, WE seriously recommend to them, to offer up their joint Supplications to the Omnipotent, Alwise, Righteous and Merciful Disposer of all Events, to command his Blessing upon the Counsels, and Consequent Determinations of the American CONGRESS, and the General ASSEMBLY of this Colony;--to impart Skill, Wisdom, Courage and Resolution to our GENERALS;--the other Officers and Soldiers;--to grant success to our Arms, whether by Sea or Land, in the unnatural Struggle we have been forced into by a corrupt and despotic Ministry in Great-Britain:--And that He would so over-rule Events in his all-governing Providence, as that the Effect of our Contest with our Oppressors, may be the Establishment of our Rights and Priviledges, which will constitute Us a free and happy People.--That the Harmony, which at present subsists among the American Colonies, may be preserved and confirmed;--that He would bless our Civil Rulers, and graciously smile upon their Endeavours for the Preservation of Peace, and Promotion of Virtue among this People;--that Christian Knowledge and Charity may more and more abound;--that the Love of GOD may reign in the Hearts of all his People, and be evidenced by the Purity of their Lives and Conversations;--that the Gospel of CHRIST may have free Course and be glorified. And we also call upon Ministers and People, at the same Time thankfully to acknowledge the divine Favors, GOD having, in the midst of Judgment, remembered Mercy.
AND all servile Labor and Recreations are forbidden on said Day.
GIVEN at the Council-Chamber, in Watertown, this Twenty-second Day of February, in the Year of our LORD, One Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-six.
By their Honor's Command,
PEREZ MORTON, Dep. Sec'ry.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
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