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Essays and Tales by Joseph Addison
page 158 of 167 (94%)
it gave witness to me. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and
the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of
him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's
heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind; and feet was I to
the lame; I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not
I searched out. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was
not my soul grieved for the poor? Let me be weighed in an even
balance, that God may know mine integrity. If I did despise the
cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended
with me: What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he
visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the
womb, make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? If I have
withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the
widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the
fatherless hath not eaten thereof; If I have seen any perish for
want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have
not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my
sheep; If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless, when I saw
my help in the gate: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade,
and mine arm be broken from the bone. If I [have] rejoiced at the
destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil
found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin, by wishing a
curse to his soul. The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I
opened my doors to the traveller. If my land cry against me, or
that the furrows likewise thereof complain: If I have eaten the
fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to
lose their life: Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle
instead of barley."


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