THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Service the Twelbth. THE GOD OF THE POOR. unrighteous decrees, to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people. Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them2 Congregation. The rich and poor meet together the Lord is the maker of them all.3 Minister [God Defends the Rights of the Poor.] Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteous 1 Isaiah x. I, 2. * Pro. xxii. 22, 23, Pra. xxix. 14. 3 Proverbs xxii. 2. ness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.1 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?2 Congregation. The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.3 Minister. [God Observes the Trials of the Poor.] There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.1 They drive away the ass of the fatherless; they turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry.1 The poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.2 Congregation. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.3 Minister. [God is Displesaed with the Op pressors of the Poor.] What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of Hosts. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judg ment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, saying, When will the new moon be gone-that we may sell corn? and the sabbath-that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit ? that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; Yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat ?2 Congregation. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker. Minister. [God's Legislation for the Relief of the Poor in Judaism.] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the 1 Eecles. v. 8. 2 Amos viii. 4-6. 3 Proverbs xiv. 31. bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.1 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: at his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.2 Congregation. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to the needy, in thy land.3 1 Isaiah lviii. 6-8. ? Deu. xxiv. 14, 15. 3 Deu. xv. II ness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.1 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ?2 Congregation. The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.3 Minister. [God Observes the Trials of the Poor.] There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. They drive away the ass of the fatherless; they turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. [God is Displesaed with the Op pressors of the Poor.] What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of Hosts. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judg ment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; |