From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol I. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
July 5. –This day, the Virginia Convention resolved, that the following sentences in the morning and evening church service shall be omitted: –“O Lord, save the king, and mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.” That the fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth sentences in the Litany, for the king’s majesty, and the Royal Family, &c., shall be omitted. That the two prayers for the king’s majesty, and the Royal Family, in the morning and evening service, shall be omitted.
That the prayers in the communion service, which acknowledge the authority of the king, and so much of the prayer for the church militant as declares the same authority, shall be omitted, and this alteration made in one of the above prayers in communion service: “Almighty and everlasting God, we are taught by thy holy word, that the hearts of all rulers are in thy governance, and that thou dost dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy goodly wisdom; we humbly beseech thee to dispose and govern the hearts of the magistrates of this commonwealth, that in all their thoughts, words, and works, they may evermore seek thy honor and glory, and study to preserve thy people committed to their charge in wealth, peace, and godliness. Grant this, O Merciful Father, for thy dear Son’s sake, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.”
That the following prayer shall be used instead of the prayer for the king’s majesty, in the morning and evening service: “O, Lord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth, most heartily we beseech thee with thy favor to behold the magistrates of this commonwealth, and to replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way; endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; strengthen them, that they may vanquish and overcome all their enemies; and finally, after this life, they may obtain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”
In the twenty-sixth sentence of the Litany use these words: “That it may please thee to endue the magistrates of this commonwealth with grace, wisdom, and understanding.”
In the succeeding one, use these words: “That it may please thee to bless and keep them, giving them grace to execute justice and maintain truth.”
Let every other sentence of the Litany be retained, without any alteration, except the above sentences recited. 1
1 New York Gazette, July 29.