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Evils of - God pities the Poor,

great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

POVERTY.

521. Evils of poverty.

Pr. 10: 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 14: 20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor, but the rich hath many friends. - 19: 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them, with words, yet they are wanting to him. 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Ec. 9: 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

522 God pities and helps the poor.

Dt. 10: 18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

Job 5: 15 He saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Ps. 10: 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.-72: 12 He shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 102: 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 140: 12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. — 146: 9 The LORD

God hates Oppressors.

preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. [See 224-5.]

523. Oppression of the poor forbidden - Threats.

Ex. 22: 21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

Ps. 12: 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.-72: 4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

Pr. 21: 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 22: 16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate. 23: 10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless.

Is. 3: 15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. -10: 1 Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Am. 8: 4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 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? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat. 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.

Mal. 3: 5 I will come near to you to judgment: and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. [See 490, 679.]

Poor subjects of divine grace A contrast-Duty to aid the poor.

524. The poor often distinguished by God's special grace.

Lk. 1: 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. 4: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.. 10: 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

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1 Cor. 1: 26 Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Jam. 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

525. Future contrast between the humble poor, and their oppressors.

1 S. 2: 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.

Lk. 16: 25 Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

[See 513, 550.]

526. Duty to help the poor and the afflicted, and to avoid prejudice and partiality.

Lev. 19: 9 When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of

Helping the Poor encouraged.

thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God. 25: 35 If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner: that he may live with thee.

Dt. 15: 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Dan. 4: 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Jam. 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 2: 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly, a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1 Jn. 3: 17 Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.

[See 7, 687.]

527. Encouragements to help the poor.

Ps. 41: 1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon thẹ

In private and social worship.

earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Ps. 112: 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

Pr. 19: 17 He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. - 22: 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Mat. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 25: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungerd, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

[See 354, 408, 630, 686.]

PRAISE TO GOD.

528. Praising God in private and social worship required and exemplified. Ps. 9: 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion, declare among the people his doings. 22: 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. - 35: 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.-47: 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.-95: 1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 100: 1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. — 107: 31 O that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 150: 1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in

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