Reason 1. First, Because mercy is God's nature. It is his name, even an attribute as infinite as himself. And he himself being infinite for measm-e, infinite in continuance, so his mercy must needs be as infinite as himself.
Reason 2. Secondly, Because all creatures in heaven and earth have their mercy by derivation from this mercy of God. In him it is his nature, in us derived, as a drop to the ocean, from him ; so is all our mercy nothing else but a drop of his infinite mercy : so that he is merciful above all.
Reason 3. Thirdly, Because mercy in God is free, without any cause in us moving him to the same. In us mercy and love is still procured by something in the party we love. In God it is not so, for he loveth freely, without any moving cause in us : so that his mercy is over all his works.
Use. The use is, Is it so that mercy is God's nature, is an infinite essence, is free in him ? Why then, in all distresses, let us come running freely
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unto him, and reaching out the hand of faith, let us confidently promise unto ourselves whatsoever mercies the best child hath ever found from the most kind and tender-hearted father and mother ; for it is certain, if we come unto God, and have a good conceit of his mercy, and of the infinite immensible* depth, and length, and breadth, and height thereof, that we shall return from the throne of grace filled with a great measure of this mercy.
As the prodigal son, before he resolved to go unto his father, he had first a good conceit of him by a secret comparison and unequals, — ' Oh,' saith he, ' how many hired servants are at my father's, and have bread enough, and I die for hunger ! therefore, I will rise, and go to my father,' &c., Luke XV. 17, — even so we come unto God very often with small com- fort. Why ? Because we have not a high conceit of God's attributes'; we judge of him like unto ourselves, and so we speed for the most part, departing as we came. And I pray you, if our children should lament, weep unto us, and bemoan themselves, would not we pity them ? What pride then is this in us, to think better of ourselves than of God ? If we be thus merciful, is not he much more merciful unto his children, since all our mercy is but a small drop of his infinite mercy ? It was a good speech uttered by Benhadad, though a heathen man, who because of a flying report lie had, that the kings of Israel were merciful, did humble himself in sackcloth, and found mercy ; so, I say, if Ahab, a wicked man, upon this was merciful to Benhadad, though with his own destruction, how much more, do we think, doth God exceed in mercy ? So many of us want comfort, because we will not go unto him for mercy ; and therefore also do we want comfort even of our dearest friends, because God would have us run unto him, call earnestly for his mercy, be so much the more desirous thereof, and be acquainted with him.
Now, in the second place, where he beginneth to reckon up what this mercy is, first he sheweth that he pardoneth iniquity, which is remission of sins ; where the doctrine is,
Doct. 2. That it is the mercy of all mercies to have our sins forgiven, to have them covered, buried, and done quite away. Now there be many reasons to prove this, that it is the mercy of mercies to have our sins forgiven.
Reason 1. First, Because other mercies reprobate men may have, as an abstinence from some sins ; a show of sanctification, some outward gifts of the Spirit, &c., but this mercy none can have but the elect.
Reason 2. Secondly, Because this benefit is the chiefest fountain which flowed from Christ's blood : ' He hath loved us, and washed away our sins with his own blood.'
. Reason 3. Thirdly, Because it bringeth unto us the happiest fruits and benefits here and hence ; for, first, here ; by this we are at peace with God, yea, in a more perfect peace than God had with Adam before his fall. Secondly, by this we have peace of conscience. When God favours us, then our conscience favours us, and all is at peace when once we are sprinkled with the blood of Christ. Thirdly, he hath peace with all the creatures, even in league with the beasts of the field, as Job speaketh : so also for the world to come.
Reason 4. Fourthly, This brings us to an everlasting peace in heaven, making us to be able that we may stand in the great day of his appearance without fear, as also now it is no small benefit, that God with forgiveness * That is, ' unmeasurable.' — G.
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of sins healeth the nature of his children, that sin and Satan shall never have their former dominion over them.
Use 1. Since, then, we see this is so great a benefit and mercy to have our sins forgiven, it must teach all of us earnestly to prize it, since such are so blessed who have their sins forgiven. The means is, to pray often and earnestly for the forgiveness of the same ; to confess them often, and to appeal often to that payment which Christ hath already made for us ; for if we come to confess our sins before God, we come but to get an acquittance of that debt which Christ hath formerly paid for us.