O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

Arise, O God, plead thine own cause.

BENEDICTION VI.

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

COLLECT.

GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested, that he might make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his glorious kingdom; where we may ascribe blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, to Him who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.

PROPHECIES.

ISAIAH.

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not; I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens and burneth incense upon altars;

Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.

Behold, it is written before me, I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Because, when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed.

Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and for vexation of spirit.

And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen : for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.

That he who blesseth himself in the earth, shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth, shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

And I will rejoice in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in thee, nor the voice of crying.

There shall be no more thence the infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

They shall not build and another inhabit; and they shall not plant and another eat for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble: for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

And it shall come to pass, that, before they call, I will answer and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord.

The Lord's name be praised.

PSALMS.

MAKE haste, O God, to deliver me: make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

But I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; for I do not forget thy law.

Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy

statutes.

Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord; quicken me according to thy judgments.

Many are mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

I hate and abhor lying; but thy law do I love.

Seven times a day do I praise thee: because of thy righteous judgments.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy

statutes.

My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Let thine hand help me : for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

BENEDICTION V.

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

G

COLLECT.

RANT unto us, O merciful Father, resolution and constancy to persevere in the path of our duty to the end of our lives. Let no prospect of danger deter us from doing that which is right, nor any enticement of evil example tempt us to forfeit our hope of immortality. Preserve us, we humbly beseech thee, from every evil way, and conduct us in the paths of innocence and virtue to eternal life; which we ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PROPHECIES.

JEREMIAH.

WHY is this people slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times ; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time of their coming: but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.

How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.