How did prayer stop the French invasion of America of 1746?
It was early autumn 1746 in Boston Massachusetts. John Adams who was later destine to be the first Vice President of the United States, and the second President of the United States was only a boy of around 10. The entire community was in turmoil. Governor Shirley had even proclaimed a Fast Day to pray for deliverance from the peril at hand. 6,000 troops, Massachusetts men all, some veterans of the earlier French War with their old outdated weapons, some young men in hunting shirts with their own muskets, had gathered at Boston Common in preparation of the upcoming attack.
The great warrior-admiral D'Anvilles and his fleet of square-rigged ships bristling with guns was rapidly approaching by way of the Atlantic Ocean. This fleet was massive, a hundred transports jammed with troops and forty ships of war belonging to Louis XV of France. There must have been at least 10,000 soldiers on board those ships. D'Anville's orders where to burn Boston to her foundations.
The fleet was at their doorstep. In Boston, reverend Thomas Prince, from the pulpit of the Old South Meeting-house prayed before his congregation. The morning was clear and calm. People had walked to church through sunshine. "Deliver us from our enemy!" the minister implored. "Send thy tempest, Lord, upon the waters to the eastward! Raise Thy right hand. Scatter the ship of our tormentors and drive them hence., Sink their proud frigates beneath the power of Thy winds!" He had scarcely pronounced the words when the sun was gone and the morning darkened. All the church was in shadow. A wind shrieked so hard that the great church bell struck twice. Thomas Prince paused in his prayer, both arms raised. "We hear thy voice, O Lord! We hear it! Thy breath is upon the waters of the eastward, even upon the deep, The bell tolls for the death of our enemies!" He bowed his head; when he looked up, tears streamed down his face. "thine be the glory, Lord. Amen and amen!"
The French attack never came. A week later details were provided by other vessels entering Bostom from the northeastward. The French fleet was nearly lost. All who survived the sudden storm suffered from a pestilential fever. The great Admiral Duc d'Anville was dead. The few reminaing ships, half manned, were limping off to the southward. There would be no French invasion of America!
Pestilence, storm, and sudden death. Pharaoh's hosts overwhelmed in the Read Sea were no greater miracle A day of thanksgiving and prayer was proclaimed. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
For more information on this exciting event in history, read the book John Adams and the American Revolution by Catherine Drinker Bowen (William S. Konecky Associates (December 31, 2001)
It was last updated on May 22, 2006 at 9:45:56 AM CDT.
Categories
Comments
Comment made by dpljxrcq on April 7, 2007 at 9:32:47 AM CDT
saygdioi http://etedykhb.com gbrznpku vecuulca [URL=http://kqoucfzn.com]zutylftv[/URL] <a href="http://nvscpnkn.com">gjreaixk</a>
Comment made by iesskvdh on August 26, 2007 at 3:47:18 PM CDT
[URL=http://cohjeczy.com]abprssuo[/URL] <a href="http://illtnsbx.com">nghmqmku</a> txpvnudf http://hrcmdzvd.com lrjcbjzv lmtldkeu
Add a Comment
Find out more on: One Nation Under God: