【人們可以認為托馬斯·傑斐遜並非真實地皈依基督信仰。但是無論如何，人們無法否認傑弗遜（以及像他那樣的美國早期政治領導人）受到了圍繞在其周圍的基督徒和他們所信奉的基督信仰的極大的影響。傑弗遜在任弗吉尼亞州州長期間發表了《感恩節文告》，可以是一個證明。 但是，傑弗遜在任總統期間卻拒絕發表這個文告，這不能不說是一個極大的偏離或者錯誤；對此，應該有所反思和檢討。】
《感恩節文告》（美國弗吉尼亞州第2任州長托馬斯·傑斐遜，公元1779年11月11日） “大陸會議深深被全能上帝的厚恩感動，他祝福我們這個遼闊的大陸，賜給我們大豐收，使我們的軍隊連連得勝，帶領我們平安地度過那些包圍我們的危險，在各樣的情況下眷顧這些處於萌芽階段的州，所以他們認為合適的作法是：通過法案，指定下月（12月）9日（星期四）為公開，莊重地感恩和祈禱的日子。這項法案如下： ‘鑑於我們理當謙卑地來到全能上帝的寶座前，感謝和讚美他，因為良善的他一路行奇事，引導我們祖先來到這個西方世界；在困難和危險中，他保護他們極其後裔；他從水深火熱之中抬舉他們的子孫，即我們，把我們算為地上的列國之一；裝備正直強有力的王子，來拯救我們；尤其是他喜悅賜給我們健康，使季節有規律地循環，使土地豐產，農夫蒙福，全國富足；他使我們和盟國的部隊昌盛，在危險的時刻作我們軍隊的盾牌，率領他們邁向勝利，帶領他們越過仇敵的堡壘；他與那些深入荒郊野嶺，反對野蠻部落的人同在。他使破壞者住手，敗壞他們所圖謀的破壞計劃，將他們趕回去；他使我們的商業繁榮，讓那些揭穿敵人之老底的人成功；最重要的是，他使榮耀的福音之光漫射，藉此，我們可以通過我們恩典的救主，成為他永恆之榮耀的後嗣。 因此，茲決議，本國會建議幾個州指定下月（12月）9日，即星期四，為公開莊重地向全能上帝感恩和祈禱的日子。感恩，是因為他的憐憫；祈禱，是要祈求他繼續恩待和保護這些聯合的州。他會影響我們的公開議會，賜給他們從天上來的智慧，使他們全體同心合意，堅定和成功；他會同我們的軍隊一起出征，使他們獲勝；他會用恩典澆灌他的教會，用聖靈澆灌所有的牧師；他會祝福和興盛教育，使基督教知識傳到地球上最偏遠的角落；他會垂青於他百姓的辛勞，使土地豐產，這樣，我們可以存着感恩和歡喜快樂的心享受果實；他會用聖手保護我們著名的盟國，使她勝過其仇敵，最後使她偉大，成為人民之父及人類權力的保護者；他會使敵人的心迴轉，將和平的福分賜給交戰國。 他會憐恤我們，赦免我們一切的罪孽，使我們蒙恩；最後，他會將這些聯合州的獨立建立在宗教信仰和美德的基礎上，支持和保護它們，使之享有和平，自由和安全。’ 因此，我憑大陸會議賦予我的權力發表這篇文告，特此指定下月（12月）9日，即星期四，為向全能上帝感恩和讚美的日子。我誠摯地建議這個國家的所有公民為着上述目的，將這個日子分別出來，也誠摯地建議各宗派的牧師召聚各自的會眾，協助他們祈禱，通過講道開導他們，執行合宜的聖旨。 公元1779年11月11日在威廉斯簽署。 托馬斯·傑弗遜 【朱玉華英譯中】
《Proclamation Appointing a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer》（11 November 1779） Whereas the Honourable the General Congress,
Impressed with a grateful sense of the goodness of Almighty God, in blessing the greater part of this extensive continent with plentiful harvests, crowning our arms with repeated successes, conducting us hitherto safely through the perils with which we have been encompassed and manifesting in multiplied instances his divine care of these infant states, hath thought proper by their act of the 20th day of October last, to recommend to the several states that Thursday the 9th of December next be appointed a day of publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer, which act is in these words, to wit. “Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise, for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity, amidst difficulties and dangers; for raising us their children from deep distress, to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty Princes in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labours of the husbandman, and spreading plenty through the land; that he hath prospered our arms and those of our ally, been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory, and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory. Therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the several states to appoint THURSDAY the 9th of December next, to be a day of publick and solemn THANKSGIVING to Almighty God, for his mercies, and of PRAYER, for the continuance of his favour and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our publick Councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness and success; that he would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant to his church, the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all Ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon the labours of his people, and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance, that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy protection, our illustrious ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him finally great, as the father of his people, and the protector of the rights of mankind; that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispence the blessings of peace to contending nations. That he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins, and receive us into his favour; and finally, that he would establish the independance of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety.” I do therefore by authority from the General Assembly issue this my proclamation, hereby appointing Thursday the 9th day of December next, a day of publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, earnestly recommending to all the good people of this commonwealth, to set apart the said day for those purposes, and to the several Ministers of religion to meet their respective societies thereon, to assist them in their prayers, edify them with their discourses, and generally to perform the sacred duties of their function, proper for the occasion. Given under my hand and the seal of the commonwealth, at Williamsburg, this 11th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1779, and in the fourth of the commonwealth. THOMAS JEFFERSON 【Text from Virginia Gazette (Dixon & Nicolson), 20 Nov. 1779. Issued in pursuance of the resolve of Congress here quoted; see Huntington to TJ, 20 Oct. 1779. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-03-02-0187 】
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