0,  Almighty  God,  Creator  of  all  men,  high  and
mighty,  whose  kingdom  ruleth  over  all — whose  power
'  no  creature  dare  resist — thou  art  the  protector  of
those  who  trust  in  thee.  We  come  before  thee  to
confess  our  own  sins  and  the  sins  of  our  nation,  and
to  declare  our  confidence  in  thee  as  our  light  and  our
salvation.  0  God,  we  have  heard  with  our  ears  and
our  fathers  have  declared  unto  us  the  noble  works
thou  didst  in  their  days,  and  in  the  old  time  before
them.  Let  the  shield  of  thy  omnipotent  care  be  ex
tended  over  the  United  States  of  America  to  defend
the  constitution  and  to  perfect  the  union  of  the  peo
ple.  Be  the  ruler  of  our  rulers  and  the  counsellor
of  our  legislators,  so  that  they  may  guide  our  feet
into  the  ways  of  peace.  Inspire  the  people  with  a
spirit  to  think  and  to  do  that  which  is  right.  Thou
hast  proclaimed  throughout  the  land — "Prepare  war,
wake  up  the  mighty  men,  let  all  the  men  of  war  draw
near,  let  them  come  up,  beat  your  plough-shares  into
swords,  and  your  pruning  hooks  into  spears — let  the
weak  say,  I  am  strong."  A  loving  patriotism  has
yielded  the  pride  and  treasures  of  the  family  to  pro
tect  the  State.  A  religious  loyalty  has  animated  and
nerved  society  to  whatever  it  valued  in  social  desire
to  uphold  the  government  of  the  United  States,  as  a
divine  institution  ordained  by  God  for  good.  Bless
and  prosper  the  courage  and  piety  that  have  been  thus
displayed  to  defend  them  who  with  their  lives  in
their  hands  maintain  the  cause  of  our  country.  God's
strength  of  our  life  cover  their  heads  in  the  day  of
battle.  Be  Thou  the  Ruler  and  Guide  of  all,  that
they  may  so  pass  through  the  things  temporal,  that
they  lose  not  the  things  eternal.  0  God,  bring  again
peace  in  our  time,  and  allay  all  passions,  prejudice,
and  pride.  May  Thy  spirit  descend  upon  the  great
congregation  of  Thy  people,  inspire  the  orators  to
speak  the  truth  in  love,  and  bow  our  hearts  in  obe
dience  to  duty  as  Christians  and  fellow-citizens,  as
loyalists  and  patriots,  as  sinners  saved  in  a  common
salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  with  the
Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost  be  praise  now  and  for
ever.  Amen.
