To prove that all such characters are " blessed," we shall proceed to inquire, II. What is the reward promised to them —
" They shall obtain mercy," says our blessed Lord. But from whom ? from man ? yes, from man. Good men universally will account it the joy of their hearts to administer to them, whenever occasion shall re- quire it And even bad men have within them- selves such a conviction of the excellence of such characters, that they must do violence to themselves, before they can withhold that assistance which their necessities may require. Thus Job found it', and so shall we™.
But supposing that men are ungrateful and un- merciful, still such characters shall be blessed ; for God will be merciful unto them :
1. Here —
[He will rather feed them by the ministry of ravens, than suffer them to want. " The lions may lack and sull'er hunger; but they shall not want any good thing." " God will supply all their want according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," and " will bless them in all that they put their hand unto"." But it is in their souls that they shall experience the richest blessings. Who can express the joy and delight which merciful men often experience in the exercise of their benevolence. It is no little joy that they diffuse ; but infinitely more that they receive: they find the truth of that favourite saying of our Lord, " It is more blessed to give than to receive"." This, indeed, is
promised to themP and that God who cannot lie, will
not fail to fulfil his word. In the time of their own greatest need, they shall find God's mercy to them most abundant i.]
We make our appeal to all who have exerted themselves much in doing good, whether they have not found it incomparably " better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting."
2. Hereafter —
[Though no dispositions or actions of ours can merit any thing at the hands of God, he will give unto them " a reward
1 Job xlii. 11, 12. • ra Luke vi. 38. Eccl. xi. 1.
" Phil. iv. 17—19. Deut. xv. 10. » Acts xx. 35. P Isai. Iviii. 10, 11. q Ps. xli. 1—3.