O GOD, thou hast so ordained human government as to make it necessary and wise that there shall be rulers and subjects, masters and servants, rich and poor, and that these inequalities of condition and diversities of rank should be permanent and inevitable. From the beginning hitherto thou hast also, O righteous God, associated the institution of slavery as an organic form of involuntary labor with thy Church and people, thereby securing for slaves religious teaching and provision for their temporal wants, and to the world the benefit of service not otherwise attainable. Thou hast also in thy written word given us instruction as to thy will, and our duty in the relation of master and slaves, embodying this authoritative teaching and divine protection in thy holy and immutable LAW, and in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles.

By thy holy, wise, and powerful providence, Lord, thou hast introduced slavery into these Southern states, which thou hast allotted to our fathers, and to us as a habitation for ever. Thou hast brought this people among us, and hast multiplied and blessed them, and, by their labor, their social progress, their spiritual attainments, and their conversion to God, thou hast ordained out of their mouth praise to thy great name, that the tongue of thine enemies might be stilled, and thy wonder-working providence adored. And now, O Lord, it is time for thee to work, for men have made void thy law, and teach, for thy will, the commandments, of men, and philosophy, falsely so called. They consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the doctrine which is according to godliness, but are proud and destitute of the truth, doting about questions whereof have come envy, strife, railing accusations against us thy people, and blasphemous speeches against thy holy Word and thy righteous name.

For the truth of thy word, Lord, which is forever established in the heavens; for the justice and wisdom of thine eternal providence, and thine righteousness and consistency of thy dealings with thine ancient
people, Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, we are persecuted, defamed, and overwhelmed with the miseries brought upon us by malicious and merciless enemies, who neither regard God nor man. But thou, O Lord, beholdest from heaven the rage and madness of this people, who have set themselves against thee, and against us who reverence thy word as the word of God, and as being all-profitable for doctrine and for instruction in righteousness. And as thou hast commanded that from such men we should withdraw ourselves, we now invoke thine omnipotent arm for our protection. O thou that art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, a God doing wonders, in thy mercy lead forth thy people, our wives and our little ones, our men servants and our maid servants, and guide us in thy strength to thy holy habitation. Bring us in and plant us in the mountain of thine inheritance; in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for us to dwell in, and may we know by joyful experience the blessedness of that people whose God is the Lord, and whose law is thy sure and immutable Word, free from the despotic interpretations and
enforcements of men.

Establish us, therefore, O God, as a Confederacy of states, and build us up on that rock of eternal truth against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. Unite us a people in the indissoluble bonds of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Harmonize the sovereignty of our states with confederated, constitutional authority. May the spirit of Washington animate them all, and lead them ever to seek not merely their own interests, but also the common good of all, and to beware of sectional jealousies and party dissensions.

Look down upon us especially as a slave-holding Confederacy. As thou hast bestowed upon us the blessing given in perpetuity to the posterity of Shem and Japhet [See Gen. ix, 25-27.], do thou, in blessing, bless us, and make slavery a blessing, to ourselves, to our slaves, and to the world at large. Let the blessing of Abraham, the father of the faithful and the friend of God, rest upon us and upon our servants. Pour out, as thou hast graciously promised to do, in these latter days [See Acts ii, 16-18, and Joel ii, 28, 29.], the Holy Spirit upon our sons and daughters, and upon our servants and our handmaidens, that they may call upon the Lord.

Preserve our slaves from the fanatical machinations of our enemies who would delude and destroy them, and under the promise of liberty reduce them to poverty, barbarism, and exile from the Christian homes and happiness of their fathers.  Imbue their minds with confidence in their masters, and with a spirit of cheerful and loving obedience. May they remain loyal and true, notwithstanding all the temptations with which they are assailed.  Secure to them their present religious advantages, and dispose our hearts to be more faithful to their souls, and to render unto them things just and equal.

May the issue of this war signally prove that this battle is the Lord's, and that thou hast made thy Word victorious.  My atheistic blasphemy and blind fanaticism be openly rebuked, and the truth, purity, and power of thy Word, and the wisdom, equity, and mercy of thy providential dealings toward this people be gloriously established in the sight of our enemies, and before all nations throughout all generations; and may glory rest on our land until it shall be made a praise in the whole earth.  Hear, O Lord, in heaven, thy dwelling place, these our humble petitions, with which we would plead and wrestle with thee. Answer them in mercy, for Christ's sake, and abundantly bless us.  Grant us the desires of our hearts in accordance with thy Word; and then will we ever bless and magnify thy great and glorious name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen and Amen.