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¶ Prayers appointed by
the Rt. Rev. Bishop of the Diocese of North-Carolina, to be read immediately
before the General Thanksgiving, on all occasions of Public Worship, during
the continuance of the desolating pestilence in our afflicted country.
MOST GRACIOUS FATHER
AND GOD, who hast promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty
repentance and true faith turn to thee, look down, we beseech thee, from
heaven thy dwelling place, upon us thy unworthy servants, who, under an
awful apprehension of thy judgments, and a deep conviction of our
sinfulness, prostrate ourselves before thee. We acknowledge it to be of thy
goodness alone, that, whilst thou hast visited others with pestilence, thou
hast so long spared us. Have pity, O LORD, have pity upon us. Withdraw thy
heavy hand from those who are suffering thy judgments, and arrest the
grievous calamity with which others have been scourged, and against which
our only security is in thy compassion. We confess, with shame and
contrition, that in pride and hardness of our hearts, we have shown
ourselves unthankful for thy mercies, and have followed our own inclinations
instead of thy holy laws; yet, O merciful Father, suffer not thy destroying
angel to lift up his hand against us, but keep us in health and safety; and
grant, that being warned by the sufferings of others to repent of our sins,
we may be preserved from all evil by thy mighty protection, and enjoy the
continuance of thy mercy and grace, though the merits of our only Mediator
and Advocate, JESUS CHRIST. Amen.
O, ALMIGHTY GOD, who,
by the many instances of mortality which encompass us on every side, and by
the warning, now especially urged upon us, of our exposure to sudden stroke
of death, dost call upon us seriously to consider the shortness of our time
here upon earth, and remindest us that in
the midst of life we are in death, so teach us to number our days, that we
may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Give us grace to turn unto thee with
timely repentance, and thus to obtain, through the merits of our Savior,
that pardon to-day, for which, tomorrow, it may be too late to seek; that so
being strengthened by thy good SPIRIT against the terrors of death, and
daily advancing in godliness, we may at all times be ready to give up our
souls into thy hands, O gracious Father, in the hope of a blessed
immortality, through the mediation and for the merits of JESUS CHRIST our
Lord. Amen.
[in pencil]
Cholera in 1833._
Cholera in 1833 |