From all evil and mischievous members of the state legislature, from the sin of ingratitude, from the power of ex post facto laws, and from everlasting damnation.
Good Lord, deliver us. From such laws as do discriminate in favour of sheriffs and others who are in arrears for taxes; from all pompous and inaccurate statements of the public debt, and from such statements as may tend to sooth and flatter the people into a willingness to remain in their present state, rather than to adopt the new government,
From state chicanery, government speculation, and from all the uncharitableness concomitant therewith.
From intestine war; from the assemblies of such clubs as are gathered to oppose the new constitution; and from the rage of those who burn with choler, as knowing their consequence will be lessened by the adoption thereof:
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true knowledge of thy ways, thy servants WASHINGTON, RANDOLPH, and MADISON, and all that are put in authority under them, and to enable them to be instrumental in promoting such wise government as may best tend to the peace and happiness of all thy people, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to incline the hearts of thy people to adopt the new Fœderal Constitution; to endow the president thereof, the vice-president, senators and house of representatives, with grace, wisdom and understanding, to make and execute such laws as will best tend to secure to thy people the blessings of liberty, peace and concord, in those states, and that they may so far retrieve their lost credit, that they no longer be a reproach and hissing amongst the nations of the earth.
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to shield us from the rage of malicious and disappointed men, and to strengthen us in the principles of the Fœderal Constitution, so as to enable us to triumph over all the enemies thereof, that so hereafter we may attain to a government which will have such energy and stability as will be adequate to the exigencies of the union.
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to save from anarchy all thy people.