First Prayer In Congress

In TliHtoher's Militury Journal, under date of December, 1777, is fomid :i note contnining the indentical " lirst prayer in Congress," made by Kev. Jncob Duche, a gentleman of great eloqueiice. llore it is, an liUtorical curiosity : Oh, Lord, our Henvenly Fatber, liigh and niifjhty Kinjr of Kings, Lord of Lords, who doit from thy turone behold all thy dwellers of the eartli, and relgBest wlth power supremc und uncontroUed over all the kingdouis, empires and goveriiiiicnt', look down in mercy we beseech tlire, on the American States, who have lliil to Thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protectlon, desirinjr to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee Thy have appealed, for the righteousness of their cuusej to Thee do they now look np for tliat eouiitenance and support whicli Thou alone cunst give. Take thein, therefore, Heavenly Father, unto thy niirluring cure. Give lliem wisdom in councl] and valor in the Beid. Defeat the maliemus designs of our ailversario; cmiviiice thein of the Unilgllteoutoeti of tbelr raute, and If they ft III persist in s.iiiiruiniir? pur potes, oh! let the voiei' of Iheir ]ie:irts constr.iin theiii to drop tlio weapoiis of w:ir trom tin ir iinnerved hdllda in the day of bütlle H TbU piesent, 0 "d of Wladom, and d reet tl. e oounclla of ihis bonoriible a - tecobly. Kimble tiiem to nettta nn the beet and sn nst foundation?, thut eccnes r' blood idmv be ppemlily clowd and orcier, h;irmony and peace may effeituully be re-tored, the truth and justici'. religión and plety, prevalí and fiourish among the people. l'nscrve the healtli of their bodies and the vigor of their minds; sliower down opon thein and the millions they hcre represent such temporal blessins as Thou feest expedient for them in tliis workl, and Crown thein wi'h everlrtitlnjr glory in the world tocóme. All tliis we ask in the namf umi throiiL'li the nuTits of JetUI Cliri.-I. thy Sou, iiir Savior. Amen. The above was (lieoverc(l in an old document heloiiginy Ui Mr 15. W. Field, of Sinelaii ville, anti Ir in-ci bed by Mr. l'liny Saai tli', of Stockton, who tbinks the ii'oile of tliis dny and generatlon will lie inteiesteil in its ncrnsi!