Thanksgiving Proclamation

 

First Thanksgiving Proclamation 1676

“The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr

with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in

this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy,

having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular

Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened,

and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal

Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be

the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies

are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations

of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as

well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn

Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be

Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God’s Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him

returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the

Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and

seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole

people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ.”

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