be a people forsaken of their God. Father of Mercies, we invoke Thy protection and guidance in behalf of our civil rulers, and especially in behalf of the Delegates of this Convention here assembled to consummate a work which Thou hast given them to perform—a work in which we trust they have been directed by Thy counsel, and which has been effected in accordance with Thy will: a work which is intended to be for the advancement of Thy glory—the good of Thy Church—and the safety, honor and welfare of this people, in all time to come. They are assembled to put too their hands and their seals to a solemn ordinance, by which our allegiance to a confederated government, (alike regardless of their stipulated covenant and plighted vows, is forever annulled;) and by which is proclaimed to the world our determination to establish for ourselves a government, free and independent, and based upon the eternal principles of truth, justice, equity and love. Let them not, Heavenly Father, proceed to this solemn transaction through strife or vain glory. Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamor, (with all malice,) be put away from among them, and let the fear of God, and the love of God, and the desire of doing that only which shall approve itself to their own consciences and be acceptable to Thee, be the ruling spirit of their minds and hearts; and animated by the same desire, and the same spirit, may all their future deliberations and proceedings be conducted. Impress, too, we beseech Thee, the minds of the people of this land with a sense of the unspeakable blessings and advantages which they may hope to realize under this newly-constructed government of liberty and equal rights and salutary laws. May they thankfully receive the boon which Thy Providence by this day's transaction betokens, and faithfully and diligently maintain and preserve the same. Perpetuate to them and future generations the blessings of peace, liberty and prosperity under this new political organization, as in times past Thou didst grant unto our fathers. Heal all divisions among Thy people, and make them of one mind and one heart and as a band of loving brothers, struggling together in one common cause, let them do all in their power to maintain and defend the institutions of their country against foreign invaders or domestic foes, and ever impress upon our minds this uncontroverted truth, that he only is a true patriot who yields ready and cheerful obedience to the supreme laws of the land and sustains fearlessly the constituted authorities chosen and ordained to administer the same.
Almighty God, to whom alone it belongeth to order the unruly will and affections of sinful men, and whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom all things in Heaven and in earth, and under the earth do bow and obey, take this, our republic,
