"Pray first" famous speech

The small progress we have made after 4 or 5 weeks with each other - our different sentiments on almost every question, producing as many noes as ayes, is proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding.

In this situation, groping in the dark to find political truth, how has it happened that we have not once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?

In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, we had daily prayer in this room. Our prayers were heard, they were answered. To that we owe this opportunity of establishing our future nation. Have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?

I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more proof I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

Without his aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg that prayer imploring the assistance of Heaven be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.