1st. I shall lay down these twelve posi- tions : 1 . It is the great design of the scrip- ture to represent God as merciful. This is a loadstone to draw sinners to him, Exod. xxxiv. 6., '■ The Lord merciful, gracious, long suffering, abundant in goodness," &c. Here are six expressions to set forth God's mercy, and but one to set fortli his justice : " who will by no means clear the guilty," Ps. Ivii. 10. " Thy mercy is great above the heavens," Ps. c\iii. 4. God is represent- ed as a king, and a rainbow was about his throne. Rev. iv. 3. The rainbow Avas an emblem of mercy ; the scripture dotlj oftcner represent God in his white robes of mercy, than with his garments rolled in blood, — oftener with his jjoUlen sceptre, than his iron rod.
THE MERCY OF GOD.
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2. God is more inclinable to mercy tlian ; wrath. Mercy is his darling attribute, which he most delights in, Mic. vii. 18. Mercy pleaseth him. It is delightful to the mother, saith Chrysostom, to haA^e her breasts drawn : so it is to God, to have the breasts of his mercy drawn : Isa. xx^ii. 4., " Fury is not in me ;" that is, I do not de- light in it. Acts of severity are rather forced from God, he doth not afflict will- ingly. Lam. iii. 33. The bee naturally gives honey, it stings only when it is provoked ; God doth not punish till he can bear no longer, Jer. xliv. 22., " So that the Lord could bear no longer, because of the evil of your doings." Mercy is God's right hand that he is most used to ; inflicting of punish- ment is called God's ' strange work,' Isa. xxviii. 21. He is not used to it. And when the Lord would shave-off the pride of a nation, he is said to ' hire a razor,' as if he had none of his own. Isa. Adi. 20., ' He shall shave with a razor thai is hired.' " He is slow to anger," Ps. ciii. 8. ; " and ready to forgive," Ps. Ixxxvi. 5.
3. There is no condition, but we may spy mercy in it : when the church was in captivity, she cries out, " It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed," Lam. iii. 22. Geographers write of Syracuse in Sicily, it is so situated, that the sun is ne- yer out of sight. In all afflictions we may see some sun-shine of mercy. That out- ward and inward troubles do not come to- gether, is mercy.
4. Mercy sweetens all God's other attri- butes : God's holiness without mercy, and his justice without mercy, were terrible. Wlien the water was bitter, and Israel could not drink, Moses cast a tree into the waters, and then they were made sweet. How bitter and dreadful were the other attributes of God, did not mercy sweeten them ! Mercy set God's power on work to help us; it makes his justice become our friend ; it shall avenge our quarrels.
5. God's mercy is one of the most orient pearls of his crown ; it makes his Godhead appear amiable and lovely. When Moses said to God, " I beseech thee shew me thy glory ;" the Lord answered him, " I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will shew thee mercy," Exod. xxxiii. 19.
God's mercy is his glory; his holiness makes him illustrious : his mercy makes him propitious.
6. Even the worst taste of God's mercy ; such as fight against God's mercy, taste of it; the wicked have some crumbs from mercy's table; " The Lord is good to all," Ps. cxlv. 9. The sweet dew drops on the thistle as well as the rose. The diocese where mercy visits is very large; Pharaoh's head was crowned though his heart was hardened.
7. Mercy coming to us in a covenant is sweetest. It was mercy that God would give Israel rain, and bread to the full, and peace, and victory over their enemies. Lev. xxvi. 4, 5, 6. But it was a greater mercy that God would be their God, v. 1 2. To have health is a mercy ; but to have Christ and salvation is a greater mercy ; this is like the diamond in the ring, it casts a more sparkling lustre.
8. One act of mercy engageth God to another. JNIen argue thus : I have shewn vou kindness alrcadv, therefore trouble me no more ; but, because God hath shewn mercy, he is more ready still to shew mer- cy ; his mercy in election, makes him jus- tify, adopt, glorify ; one act of mercy en- gageth God to more. A parent's love to his child makes him always giving.
9. All the mercy in the creature is de- rived from God, and is but a drop of this ocean ; the mercy and pity a mother hath to her child is from God ; he that puts the milk in her breast, puts the compassion in her heart, therefore God is called, " The father of mercies,"" 2 Cor. i. 3., because he beffets all the mercies in the world. If God hath put any kindness into the creature, how much kindness is in him who is the Father of mercy ?