IT having pleased the HOLY GOD ( all whose works are Truth , and his wayes judgement ) for our sins whereby he hath been provoked , in special by the under valuation of our pleasant things ; great unthankfulness for , and manifold abuses of our wonderfull peace , and the blessings of it in this good Land which the Lord-hath Given us ; Ill entertainment of the Ministry of the precious Gospel of Peace : leaving our first Love , dealing falsly in the Covenant of the Lord our God : the Apostacy of many from the Truth unto Heresies , and pernicious Errours . Great Formality , Inordinate Affection , and sinful Conformity to this present evil vain World : and ( beside many horrid and Scandalous Sins breaking forth among us , for which we have Cause to be greatly humbled before the Lord ) , our great unsensibleness of the displeasure of the Lord is suffering these abominations to be perpetrated , together with our Car●al Security , and unquietness under the Iudgements of God upon us , our abiding very much unreformed , notwithstanding all warnings , and Chastisements , whereby the Lord hath been , and is still debating with us ; we having greatly Incensed him to stir up many Adversaries against us , not only abroad , but also at our own doors , ( Causing the Heathen in this wilderness to be as thorns in our sides , who have formerly been , and might still b● a wall unto us therein ; and others also to become a Scourge unto us ) the Lord himself also more Immediately afflicting us by diseases whereof so many Children in some of our Towns have died this Summer . His not going forth with our Armies as in former times , but giving up many of our Brethren to the mouth of the devouring Sword , yea , shewing himself angry with the Prayers of his people : threatning us also with Scarcity of Provision and other Calamities , Especially if this present Warr with the barbarous Heathen should continue ; And that the Lord of Hosts himselfe withdraw not the Commission he hath given to the Sword and other Judgements to prevaile against us ;

The GOVERNOUR and COUNCIL of this Jurisdiction therefore ( being under the Sense of these evils ; and also of the distressed state of the rest of the Colonies Confederate with our selves , and of the Churches of Christ in other parts of the Christian World ; in this day of trouble , rebukes , and Blasphemy : and fearing the sad Issue thereof , unless the Lord help us with our whole heart , and not feignedly , to turn unto himself ) Do Appoint and Order the seventh day of the next Moneth ; to be a day of publick Humiliation , with Fasting , and Prayer ; throughout this whole Colony ; that we may set our selves sincerely to seek the Lord , rending our hearts , 〈…〉 our Garments before him , and purse the same with a thorough Reformation of wh●● 〈…〉 , or is an Image of Jealousie before the Lord to offend the eyes of his 〈…〉 Lord may turn from his fierce anger , that we perish not : We do thereso●● 〈…〉 ●●tants of this Jurisdiction to fo●bear Servile Labour upon that day , and 〈…〉 respectively to observe the same , as is Appointed .