all the world ; it is a vessel of honour, it is a spark of glory, it is a bad of eternity, it is the price of blood, it is beautified with the image of God, it is adorned with the grace of God, and it is clothed with the righteousness of God. Such are blessed as shew mercy to others, from gracious motives and considerations, viz., it is free mercy that every day keeps hell and my soul asunder ; it is mercy that daily pardons my sins ; it is mercy that supplies all my inward and outward wants ; it is mercy that preserves, and feeds, and clothes my outward man ; and it is mercy that renews, strengthens, and prospers my inward man ; it is mercy that has kept me many times from committing such and such sins ; it is mercy that has kept me many a time from falling be- fore such and such temptations ; it is mercy that has many a time pre- served me from being swallowed up by such and such inward and outward afflictions. Such as shew mercy out of a design to exalt and glorify the God of mercy ; such who shew most mercy to them to W'hom God shews most mercy : these are blessed, and shall obtain mercy. Now mark, to such who are thus graciously, thus spiritually, thus divinely merciful, do these precious promises belong : Ps. xli. 1, ' Blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needy.' Prov. xxii. 9, ' He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed ; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.' Prov. xiv. 2J, 'He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth : but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." Prov. xi. 25, ' The liberal soul shall be made fat ; and he that watereth shall be watered also him- self.' That 2 Cor. ix. 8 is very remarkable : ' And God is able to make all grace abound towards you ; that ye, always having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.' Behold, how words are here heaped up to make grace, and all grace, to abound ; and who is it to ? Unto 'the liberal man, the merciful man : Job xxix. 1 3, ' The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me : and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.' Luke vi. 38, ' Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.' Behold and wonder at the height of these expressions that you have in this text. We account it good measure when it is heaped up; but when it is heaped up and pressed down, that is more ; but when it is heaped up and pressed down, and then heaped up and running over again, this is as much as possible can be made, this is as much as heart can wish. O sirs ! those that are of merciful spirit.s, they shall have mercy heaped up, pressed down, and running over. Certainly that man must needs be in a happy and blessed condition, that can be in no condition wherein he shall not have mercy, yea, mercy heaped up and running over, to sup- ply all his necessities : Mat. xxv. 35, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.' Come, ye blessed, that is their estate ; receive the kingdom, that is the issue and reward ; and why so ? ' I was hungry, and you gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink,' &c. But I am truly and graciously merciful ; therefore I am blessed, and shall obtain mercy, &c. But,
[13.] TIdrteenthly, A godly man may argue thus : They that are 'pure in heart are blessed, and shall see God,' that is, enjoy him, and live for ever with him, Mat. v. 8. But I am pure in heart ; therefore I am blessed,
Chap. I.] a cabinet of jewels. 273