【人们可以认为托马斯·杰斐逊并非真实地皈依基督信仰。但是无论如何,人们无法否认杰弗逊(以及像他那样的美国早期政治领导人)受到了围绕在其周围的基督徒和他们所信奉的基督信仰的极大的影响。杰弗逊在任弗吉尼亚州州长期间发表了《感恩节文告》,可以是一个证明。 但是,杰弗逊在任总统期间却拒绝发表这个文告,这不能不说是一个极大的偏离或者错误;对此,应该有所反思和检讨。】
《感恩节文告》(美国弗吉尼亚州第2任州长托马斯·杰斐逊,公元1779年11月11日) “大陆会议深深被全能上帝的厚恩感动,他祝福我们这个辽阔的大陆,赐给我们大丰收,使我们的军队连连得胜,带领我们平安地度过那些包围我们的危险,在各样的情况下眷顾这些处于萌芽阶段的州,所以他们认为合适的作法是:通过法案,指定下月(12月)9日(星期四)为公开,庄重地感恩和祈祷的日子。这项法案如下: ‘鉴于我们理当谦卑地来到全能上帝的宝座前,感谢和赞美他,因为良善的他一路行奇事,引导我们祖先来到这个西方世界;在困难和危险中,他保护他们极其后裔;他从水深火热之中抬举他们的子孙,即我们,把我们算为地上的列国之一;装备正直强有力的王子,来拯救我们;尤其是他喜悦赐给我们健康,使季节有规律地循环,使土地丰产,农夫蒙福,全国富足;他使我们和盟国的部队昌盛,在危险的时刻作我们军队的盾牌,率领他们迈向胜利,带领他们越过仇敌的堡垒;他与那些深入荒郊野岭,反对野蛮部落的人同在。他使破坏者住手,败坏他们所图谋的破坏计划,将他们赶回去;他使我们的商业繁荣,让那些揭穿敌人之老底的人成功;最重要的是,他使荣耀的福音之光漫射,借此,我们可以通过我们恩典的救主,成为他永恒之荣耀的后嗣。 因此,兹决议,本国会建议几个州指定下月(12月)9日,即星期四,为公开庄重地向全能上帝感恩和祈祷的日子。感恩,是因为他的怜悯;祈祷,是要祈求他继续恩待和保护这些联合的州。他会影响我们的公开议会,赐给他们从天上来的智慧,使他们全体同心合意,坚定和成功;他会同我们的军队一起出征,使他们获胜;他会用恩典浇灌他的教会,用圣灵浇灌所有的牧师;他会祝福和兴盛教育,使基督教知识传到地球上最偏远的角落;他会垂青于他百姓的辛劳,使土地丰产,这样,我们可以存着感恩和欢喜快乐的心享受果实;他会用圣手保护我们著名的盟国,使她胜过其仇敌,最后使她伟大,成为人民之父及人类权力的保护者;他会使敌人的心回转,将和平的福分赐给交战国。 他会怜恤我们,赦免我们一切的罪孽,使我们蒙恩;最后,他会将这些联合州的独立建立在宗教信仰和美德的基础上,支持和保护它们,使之享有和平,自由和安全。’ 因此,我凭大陆会议赋予我的权力发表这篇文告,特此指定下月(12月)9日,即星期四,为向全能上帝感恩和赞美的日子。我诚挚地建议这个国家的所有公民为着上述目的,将这个日子分别出来,也诚挚地建议各宗派的牧师召聚各自的会众,协助他们祈祷,通过讲道开导他们,执行合宜的圣旨。 公元1779年11月11日在威廉斯签署。 托马斯·杰弗逊 【朱玉华英译中】
《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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