by Daniel Byrnes
Wilmington, Sixth Month 20th, 1775.
[Ed. Note: Original text reproduced here with some spelling and punctuation updates.]
Observing in the public prints, the twentieth of next month recommended as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer for these colonies, my mind was affected with desires for the good of mankind, and especially the people of this land, over whom a dark cloud appears to be arising, that such a fast may be adopted and kept which would be available; and that fast was brought to my remembrance, which the Lord proposed to his people formerly by the mouth of his prophet, also that which he would disapprove, Isaiah 58:
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and let ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer: thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. Ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul; is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord.”
Alas! My brethren, what will a fast for a day do, while we are living in that which the Lord (who delighteth in justice) hath a controversy with? Are not many keeping the Africans and their descendants an abject slavery, who as a nation, never have offered us the least injury. Are they not frequently sold in these colonies, so as to separate them from their nearest connections, as if they had not the common feelings of mankind? are not some kept too hard labor, and in want of the necessaries of life? Thus are we treating the people of nations, who as such, have never sought our hurt: a people that belongs to the same common Father, and have an equal claim to the same common Savior of mankind with ourselves, and consequently to the same privileges and freedom. Can we be so unwise as to suppose, that a God infinitely just, will be partial in our favor, or that he will hear our prayers, until we have put away the evil of our doings from before his eyes? How can any have the confidence to put up their addresses to a God of impartial justice, and ask of him success in a struggle for freedom, who at the same time are keeping others in a state of abject slavery? Can we suppose that the Lord will look upon us to be in earnest with him? or can we really be so while we are continuing in our iniquities? We surely cannot be feelingly and efficaciously so.
Oh! My brethren, what will a fast for a day do for us? the cloud seems to gather blackness: it appears to me to be time for us all to be serious, and to examine ourselves and see how far we have administered cause for drawing down the threatened scourge; let us begin at the right end of the work; and on this occasion the advice of the Lord, through the mouth of his prophet, to Israel his people, formerly, seems peculiarly well adapted, Isaiah 1:16,17: “Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Every nation that encourages, by their laws or common usage, Iniquity or injustice to be committed with impunity, and innocent blood to be shed, without inflicting its exemplary punishment, will stand guilty before God, who looks to the rulers and inhabitants for justice.
Look into the histories of former ages, and consider how many great nations and powerful kingdoms have been overturned, and how many potentates and rulers have been removed from their dignified stations, because they neglected to promote (when it was in their power) true judgment, justice, and righteousness in the earth.
The weight that I sometimes feel hanging over this Land and to the West Indies, for the cruelties and injustice committed against a people, over whom our Almighty Creator hath not given us any just claim to exercise such power, seems to move all that is within me—Surely it is time to be serious, both rulers and people; to seek for wisdom where it is to be found, that we may know what to do, that may avert the threatened storm, and move the Lord of all power to have compassion on the people, and show mercy to us; that can turn the hearts of men as a man turns his water course in his field.
Oh! that our eyes may be opened to see the things that belong to our peace, and that our hearts may be bent to do our own necessary work, lest the Lord, the righteous judge, should say the inhabitants of this land, as he said to his prophet concerning Israel formerly, Jeremiah 14:12: “When they fast I will not hear their cry.”
Beloved people, let us not deceive ourselves: a fast for a day will not do the work for us; it is an awful thing to approach a God infinitely pure, holy, just, and righteous, and a suitable preparation for such an approach is most assuredly necessary—justice and humility of heart is wanting—pride and arrogancy abound.—If those of the several denominations (who may think it their duty) should on the day proposed, attend their several places of worship, all the gaudiness of dress and modish vanities of the times, how, think ye, will it appear to him who passed amongst men in a seamless garment, the whole example of whose birth, life, and death was void of, as well as showed, the emptiness of all earthly grandeur.
The conduct of the king of Nineveh, upon the preaching of Jonah, may be worthy of our remembrance, “He rose from his throne and laid his robe from him, etc.” and by the decree of the king and his nobles, the people were directed to cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.” Thus this people manifested by their works, that they were in earnest; and to said, that God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and the evil intended against them was prevented.
I feel an engagement of mind to persuade people of all ranks, to come to a fast that will be available. Turn from the evil of your ways, due to all as you would they should do to you, put away pride, dressed not your persons in superfluous and fantastic things; and let us all humble ourselves, as in sight of Him, who seeth the inmost recesses of the heart, and let us not flatter ourselves by thinking that a fast for a day may do before I declare in a degree of awful dread, that God will not hear and answer the prayers of those who are determined to pursue their own wills and ways, in contradiction to His will and way; for they that come to Him must be resigned their wills must be given up to be and suffer what he pleases. Remember the example of our blessed Lord, Luke 22:42: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” If this was the disposition of mind in which the Son approached the Father, what disposition of mind, judge ye, should the servants appear in? If this resigned state was but sufficiently labored after by all of us, we should soon see a happy change; for our wills being resigned and given up, we should be brought to that state in which true prayer is begotten and brought forth, in the will of Him that made us, which he always heareth, and forever will regard.
As what I have written is not intended to offend, I hope the freedom I have taken to offer to the public these few hints, which on the present occasion, appeared to me necessary for the serious attention of all, may not be unprofitable: And with hearty desires that all may be favored with wisdom to attend thereto—that freedom, the common right of all men, may be extended to all—tranquility be again restored, and the further effusion of human blood prevented, is the sincere desire of a well-wisher to all mankind.