Feet go down to Death, her Steps take hold on Hell. Proverbs xxix. 3. Whofe loveth Wisdom, rejoiceth his Father; but he that keepeth Company with Harlots fpendeth his Substance. Matthew v. 28. Whofoever looketh on a Woman to Luft after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart. Leviticus xx. 10. And the Man that commiteth Adultery with another, Man's Wife, even he that commiteth Adultery with his Neighbour's Wife, the Adulterer and the Adulterefs fhall furely be put to Death. Remember Man that thou shalt fleep in Duft, Texts which few that we fhould not grieve the Fatherless or Widow, or opprefs the Poor, but render unto them their Wages or Hire. Neighbour, neither rob him, the Wages of him that is hired, fhall not abide with thee all Night, until the Morning. Jeremiah xxii. 13. Woe to him that buildeth his House by Unrighteoufnefs, and his Chambers by Wrong, that ufeth his Neighbours Service without Wages, and giveth him not for his Work. Proverbs xxii. 16, 22, 23. He that oppreffeth the Poor to encrease his Riches, and he that giveth to to the Rich fhall furely come to Want. Rob nog the Poor because he is Poor, neither opprefs the Afflicted in the Gate, for the Lord will plead their Caufe, and fpoil the Soul of those that spoiled them.. Zachariah vii. 9, 10. Thus fpeaketh the Lord of Hofts, faying, Execute true Judgment, and fhew Mercy and Compaffion every Man to his Brother, and opprefs not the Widow, nor the Fatherlefs, the Stranger, nor the Poor; and let none of you Imagine Evil against his Brother in your Heart. Pfalm xlviii. 5. A Father of the Fatherless, and a Judge of the Widows, is God in his Holy Habitation.. Malach. iii. v. And I will come near to you to Judgment, and I will be a fwift. Witnefs against the Sorcerers, and against those that opprefs the Hireling of his Wages; the Widow, and the Fa therless, and that turn afide the Stranger from his Right, and fear not me, faith the Lord of Hofts. Deuteronomy xxiv. 14, 15. Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant that is Poor or Needy, whether he be of thy Brethren, or of thy Strangers that are in thy Land within thy Gates. At his Day, thou fhalt give him his Hire, neither fhall the Sun go down upon it, for he is Poor and fetteth his Heart upon it, left he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be Sin unto thee. Job xx. 19. Because he hath oppreffed, and hath forfaken the Poor, because he hath violently taken away an Houfe which he builded not; furely he shall not feel Quietness in his Belly, he fhall not fave of that which he defired. Proverbs xvii. 5. Whofo mocketh the Poor reproacheth his Maker, and he that is glad at Cala mities, fhall not be unpunished. Tobit iv. 14. Let not the Wages of any Man which hath wrought for thee, tarry with thee, but give it him out of Hand, for if thou ferve God he will alfo repay thee. James v. 4. Behold, the Hire of the Labourers, which have reaped down your Fields, which is of you kept back by Fraud, crieth, and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbath. Pfalm xii. 5. For the Oppreffion of the Poor, for the fighing of the Needy, now will I arife, faith the Lord, I will fet him at Safety from him that "puffeth at him. Exodus xxii. 21 to 25th. Thou shalt neither vex a Stranger nor opprefs him, for ye were Strangers in the Land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any Widow, or fatherlefs Child. If thou afflict them in amy wife, and they cry at all unto me, I will furely hear their Cry, and my Wrath fhall wax hot, and I will kill you with the Sword, and your Wives shall be Widows, and your Children Fatherless. Deut. xxvii. 19. Curfed be he that perverteth the Judgment of the Stranger, Fatherless, and Widow, and all the People fhall fay, Amen. Proverbs xxi. 13. Whofo ftoppeth his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, he also fhall Cry himself, but hall not be heard. Proverbs xxiii. 10. 11. Remove not the old Land-mark, and enter not into the Fields of the Fatherlefs, for their Redeemer is mighty; he fhall plead their Caufe with thee. Deut. xix. 14. Thou shalt not remove thy Neighbours Land-mark, which they of old Time have fet in thine Inheritance which thou fhalt inherit, in the Land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to poffefs it. Ecclef. v. 1. to 7th. My Son, defraud not the Poor of his Living, and make not the needy Eyes to wait long; make not an hungry Soul forrowful, neither provoke a Man in his Distress; add not more Trouble to an Heart that is vexed, and de fer fer not to give to him that is in Need. Reject not the Supplication of the Afflicted, neither turn away. thy Face from a poor Man: Turn not away thine Eye from him that is Needy, and give him none Occafion to Curfe thee; for if he curfe thee in the bitterness of his Soul, his Prayer fhall be heard of him that made him. Ecclef. xxxiv. 21, 22. The Bread of the Needy is their Life, he that defraudeth him thereof is a Man of Blood, he that taketh away his Brother's Living, flayeth him; and he that defraudeth the Labourer of his Hire, is a Blood-fhedder. 1 The. iv. 3. That no Man go beyond and de fraud his Brother in any Matter, because that the Lord is the Avenger of all fuch. Ecclef. vii. 20. Whereas thy Servant worketh truly, entreat him not Evil, nor the Hireling that beftoweth himself wholly for thee. Levit. xxv. 35. And if thy Brother be waxen Poor, and fallen in Decay with thee, then thou fhalt relieve him: Yea, tho' he be a Stranger or Sojourner, that he may live with thee. Malach ii. 10. Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every Man against his Brother, by prophaning the Covenant of our Fathers. Micah. vi. 8. He hath fhewed thee, O Man, what is Good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? If with your Neighbours you would live in The ancient Land mark you must not remove; Texts which fhew that we should exercife Mercy, Compaffion, and Charity to our poor Brethren. Salm xli. 1, 2, 3. Bleffed is he that confider Psa eth the Poor, the Lord will deliver him in Time of Trouble, the Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he fhall be bleffed upon the Earth; and thou wilt not deliver him into the Will of his Enemies, the Lord will ftrengthen him upon the Bed of languifhing, thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness. Prov. xiv. 21, 31. He that defpifeth his Neighbour, finneth; but he that hath Mercy on the Poor, happy is he. He that oppreffeth the Poor, reproacheth his Maker, but he that honoureth him, hath Mercy on the Poor. Matth. vi. 19, 2c. Lay not up for yourfelves Treasures upon Earth, where Moth and Ruft doth corrupt, and where Thieves break through and fteal, but lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where neither Moth nor Ruft dath corrupt, and where Thieves do not break through nor Яeal. 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. He which foweth fparingly, fhall reap alfo fparingly, and he which foweth bountifully, fhall reap alfo bountifully. Every Man according as he purpofeth in his Heart, fo let him give; not grudgingly, or of Neceffity, for God loveth a chearful Giver. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19. Charge them that are Rich in this World, that they be not high-minded, nor Trust in uncertain Riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all Things to enjoy, that they do Good, that they be rich in good Works, ready to diftribute, willing to communi cate; |