O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth, and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the kingdoms, empires and governments: look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these our American Colonies, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on thee.

Grant unto the inhabitants of these Colonies grace, to maintain and defend their rights and liberties, which thou hast made them, as thy creatures, to enjoy.

Be pleased to direct and prosper the means taken for their preservation, and safety.

Give them wisdom in council, and valor in the field. Defeat the malicious designs of our adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause; and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, O let the voice of thine own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle.

Be thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the counsels of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation, that the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony, and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst thy people.

Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds; shower down on them, and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. Amen.