252 day for fasting and prayer, that God would remember his people, and suffer them to return to their own land. He laid aside the splendid robes and costly turban which he usually wore, and clothing himself in sackcloth, a plain coarse garment, made of goats’ hair, he fasted and sat as a mourner, sprinkling ashes on his head; for such was the practice of Inourners in those days. The following is the prayer and confession of which he offered up towards the close of day. &g o Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant of mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: neither have we hearkened unto thy the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and The inhabitants of Jeru salem, and to all Israel, that are near, and that
