The Pilgrims at
the first Thanksgiving were likely a subset of Puritanism and possibly
prayed a prayer like this one from The Valley of Vision:
O
My God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires,
adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I
would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.
When
I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts
spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand
refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of
happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, for adorning it, for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
for
the body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my
limbs, for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for
thy royal bounty providing my daily support, for a full table and
overflowing cup, for appetite, taste, sweetness, for social joys of
relatives and friends, for ability to serve others, for a heart that
feels sorrows and necessities, for a mind to care for my fellow-men, for
opportunities of spreading happiness around, for loved ones in the joys
of heaven, for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I
love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to
thy creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.
