A National Thanksgiving

A National Thanksgiving

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and
humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of
Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to
the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and
prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many
and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an
opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their
safety and happiness": Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign
Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people
of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is
the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will
be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and
humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this
country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and
manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in
the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of
tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;

For the peaceable and rational manner in which we have enabled do
establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness,
and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil
and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have
of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for the
great and various favors which He has been please to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers
and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech
Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all,
whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and
relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national
government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a
government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and
faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns
and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to
bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the
knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase
of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all
mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be
best