SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.

A

COLLECT.

LMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of

ourselves to help ourselves; keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PROPHECIES.

EZEKIEL.

AND the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself.

And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the

punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God.

The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,

Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it :

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

For thus saith the Lord God, How much more when I send my four sore judgments, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!

Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be

brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon you.

And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.

Moreover, he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

And go, get thee unto thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.

I heard also the noise of the wings of living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.

So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit: but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

And it came to pass, at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity: but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity: but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned: also thou hast delivered thy soul.

That we may hear meekly thy word and receive it with pure affection.

PSALMS.

O GOD, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Thou hast showed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Thou hast given a banner to them that feared thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.

That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand, and hear me.

God hath spoken in his holiness: I will rejoice.

Who will bring me into the strong city?

Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou,

O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the covert of thy wings.

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

I shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve me.

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure!

For thine arrows have deeply pierced me, and thy hand hath been heavy upon me.

There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; nor rest in my bones, because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are more than I can bear.

O Lord, thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hidden from thee!

My heart panteth; my strength faileth me; the very light of my eyes is gone from me.

I am like one who heareth nothing, and in whose mouth is no reply.

But in thee, O Lord, do I trust; thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God!

For I have prayed, Let them not rejoice over me; let them not exult at the slipping of my feet!

For I confess my iniquity, and am troubled on account of my sin.

Forsake me not, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to mine aid, O Lord, my salvation!

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence: I shall not be greatly moved.