This day was the day appointed by proclamation for a general fast and humiliation before Almighty God for obtaining pardon of our sins, and for averting those heavy judgments which our manifold provocations have most justly deserved, and imploring His blessing and assistance on the arms of his Majesty by sea and land, and for restoring and perpetuating peace, safety and prosperity to himself and to his kingdom.
My wife, self and servant at church in the morning, the text in the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th verses of the 2nd chapter of the Prophet Joel: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore they should say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people,” from which words we had an excellent sermon (in my opinion).
No prayers in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. In the day read part of Burkitt on the New Testament. The fast in this place has been seemingly kept with a becoming decency, and God grant that the people of this nation may have a just sense of their sins and repent and return to the Almighty.