we may see some sunshine of have Christ and salvation is a mercy. That outward and in- greater mercy; this is like the ward troubles do not come to-diamond in the ring, it casts a gether, is mercy. more sparkling lustre. 4. Mercy sweetens all God's 8. One act of mercy engageth other attributes: God's holiness God to another. Men argue thus: without mercy, and his justice I have shewn you kindness alwithout mercy, were terrible. ready, therefore trouble me no When the water was bitter, and more; but, because God hath Israel could not drink, Moses cast shewn mercy, he is more ready a tree into the waters, and then still to shew mercy; his mercy in they were made sweet. How election, makes him justify, bitter and dreadful were the adopt, glorify; one act of mercy other attributes of God, did not engageth God to more. mercy sweeten them? Mercy rent's love to his child makes him set God's power on work to help always giving. us; it makes his justice become our friend; it shall avenge our quarrels. A pa 9. All the mercy in the creature is derived from God, and is but a drop of this ocean; the 5. God's mercy is one of the mercy and pity a mother hath to most orient pearls of his crown; her child is from God; he that it makes his Godhead appear puts the milk in her breast, puts amiable and lovely. When Moses the compassion in her heart, said to God, "I beseech thee therefore God is called, "The shew me thy glory;" the Lord father of mercies," 2 Cor. i. 3., answered him, "I will make all because he begets all the mercies my goodness pass before thee, in the world. If God hath put and I will shew thee mercy," any kindness into the creature, Exod. xxxiii. 19. God's mercy how much kindness is in him is his glory; his holiness makes who is the Father of mercy? him illustrious; his mercy makes 10. God's mercy, as it makes him propitious. the saints happy, so it should 6. Even the worst taste of make them humble. Mercy is 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. 12. To have health is a mercy; but to not the fruit of our goodness, but the fruit of God's goodness. Mercy is an alms that God bestows; they have no cause to be proud, that live upon the alms of God's mercy, Job x. 15., “If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head." All my righteousness is the effect of God's mercy, therefore I will be humble, and will not lift up my head. 11. It is mercy stays the speedy execution of God's justice. Sinners continually provoke God, and make his fury come up in his face," Ezek. xxxviii. 18. Whence is it God doth not presently arrest and condemn them? It is not that God cannot do it, for he is armed with omnipotence; but it is from God's mercy; mercy gets a reprieve for the sinner, and stops the speedy process of justice. God would, by his goodness, lead sinners to repentance. 12. It is dreadful to have mercy witness against one. It was sad with Haman, when the queen herself accused him, Esth. vii. 6. So will it, when this queen of mercy shall stand up against a person and accuse him. It is only mercy that saves a sinner. Now, how sad to have mercy become an enemy! If mercy be an accuser, who shall be our advocate? The sinner never escapes hell, when mercy draws up the indictment. to such as are worthy, he would shew none at all. 2d. God's mercy is an overflowing mercy; it is infinite; Ps. lxxxvi. 5., "Plenteous in mercy;" Eph. ii. 4., " Rich in mercy," Ps. li. 1., "Multitude of thy mercies." The vial of wrath doth but drop, but the fountain of mercy runs. The sun is not so full of light as God is of mercy; God hath morning-mercies, Lam. iii. 23., They are new every morning ;" and nightmercies, Ps. xlii. 8., "In the night his song shall be with me." God hath mercies under heaven, those we taste of; and in heaven, those we hope for. 3d. God's mercy is eternal, Ps. I might shew you several spe- ciii. 17., "The mercy of the Lord cies or kinds of mercy: prevent- is from everlasting to everlasting.” ing mercy, sparing mercy, sup- It is repeated twenty-six times in plying mercy, guiding mercy, ac-one psalm, "His mercy endureth cepting mercy, healing mercy, for ever," Ps. cxxxvi. The souls of quickening mercy, supporting the blessed shall be ever bathing mercy, forgiving mercy, correct- themselves in this sweet and pleaing mercy, comforting mercy, sant ocean of God's mercy. God's delivering mercy, crowning mer- anger to his children lasts but a cy, but I shall speak of the while, Ps. ciii. 17., "But his qualifications or properties of mercy lasts for ever.' As long as God's mercy. he is God he will be shewing mercy; as his mercy is overflowing, so everflowing. 1st. God's mercy is free. To set up merit is to destroy mercy; nothing can deserve mercy, be- Use 1st. Of Information. It cause we are polluted in our shows us how we are to look upon blood; nor force it; we may force God in prayer,-not in his judgGod to punish us, not to love us, ment-robes, but clothed with a Hos. xiv. 4., "I will love them rainbow full of mercy and clefreely." Every link in the chain mency. Add wings to prayer. of salvation is wrought and inter- When Jesus Christ ascended up woven with free grace. Election to heaven, that which made him is free, Eph. i. 4, 5., "He hath go up thither with joy was, chosen us in him," " according go to my Father ;" so that which to the good pleasure of his will." should make our hearts ascend Justification is free, Rom. iii. 24., with joy in prayer, is, "We are "Being justified freely by his going to the Father of mercy, grace." Salvation is free, Titus who sits upon the throne of iii. 5., " According to his mercy grace;" go with confidence in he saved us." Say not then, I this mercy, as when one goes to am unworthy, for mercy is free; a fire, it is not doubtingly, perif God should shew mercy only haps it will warm me, perhaps not. "I Use 2d. Believe in his mercy, | xiii. 58., "He could do no Ps. lii. 8., "I will trust in the mighty works there, because of mercy of God for ever." God's their unbelief." Why dost thou mercy is a fountain opened, let not believe in God's mercy? Is down the bucket of faith, and it thy sins discourage? God's you may drink of this fountain mercy can pardon great sins, nay, of salvation. What greater en- because they are great, Ps. xxv. couragement to believe than God's 11. The sea covers great rocks mercy? God counts it his glory as well as lesser sands: some that to be scattering pardons; he is had an hand in crucifying Christ desirous that sinners should touch found mercy. As far as the heathe golden sceptre of his mercy vens are above the earth, so far and live. And this willingness to is God's mercy above our sins, shew mercy appears two ways: Isa. lv. 2. What will tempt us to believe, if not the mercy of God! 1. By his entreating of sinners to come and lay hold on his mercy, Rev. xxii. 17., "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Mercy woos sinners,it even kneels down to them. It were strange for a prince to entreat a condemned man to accept a pardon. God saith, Poor sinner, suffer me to love thee, be willing to let me save thee. Use 3d. Of caution. Take heed of abusing this mercy of God! Suck not poison out of the sweet flower of God's mercy! Do not think, that because God is merciful, you may go on in sin; this is to make mercy become your enemy. None might touch the ark but the priests, who by their office were more holy; none may 2. By his joyfulness when sin- touch this ark of God's mercy, ners do lay hold on his mercy. but such as are resolved to be What is God the better whether holy. To sin because mercy we receive his mercy or not? abounds, is the devil's logic. He What is the fountain profited, that sins because of mercy, is that others drink of it? Yet, like one that wounds his head such is God's goodness, that he because he hath a plaster; he rejoiceth at the salvation of sin- that sins because of God's mercy, ners, and is glad when his mercy shall have judgment without is accepted of. When the prodi- mercy. Mercy abused turns to gal son came home, how glad was fury, Deut. xxix. 19, 20., “If the father and he makes a he bless himself, saying, I shall feast, to express his joy; this was have peace though I walk after but a type or emblem, to shew the imaginations of my heart, to how God rejoiceth when a poor add drunkenness to thirst, the sinner comes in, and lays hold Lord will not spare him, but the of his mercy. What an encour- anger of the Lord, and his jeaagement is here to believe in lousy, shall smoke against that God? He is a God of pardon, man." Nothing sweeter than Neh. ix. 17. Mercy pleaseth mercy, when it is improved,— him, Mic. vii. 18. Nothing doth nothing fiercer, when it is abused; prejudice us but unbelief. Un- nothing colder than lead, when it belief stops the current of God's is taken out of the mine,—nothing mercy from running; it shuts up more scalding than lead, when it God's bowels, closeth the orifice is heated; nothing blunter than. of Christ's wounds, that no heal- iron, nothing sharper when it is ing virtue will come out, Mat. whetted. Ps. ciii. 17., "The mercy of the Lord is upon them such an argument as God cannot deny. Use 4th. It exhorts such as have found mercy to three things: 1. To be upon Gerizzim, the mount of blessing and praising. They have not only heard the King of heaven is merciful, but Ans. 1. Be sensible of your they have found it so ; the honeywants. See how you stand in comb of God's mercy hath dropt need of mercy, pardoning, saving upon them; when in wants, mercy. See yourselves orphans: mercy supplied them; when they Hos. xiv. 3., " In thee the father- were nigh unto death, mercy less findeth mercy." God bestows raised them from the sick-bed; the alms of mercy only on such when covered with guilt, mercy as are indigent. Be emptied of pardoned them, Ps. ciii. 1., all opinion of self-worthiness." Bless the Lord, O my soul, and God pours the golden oil of mercy all that is within me, bless his into empty vessels. holy name." O how should the A. 2. Go to God for mercy, Ps. vessels of mercy run over with li. 1., "Have mercy upon me, O praise! 1 Tim. i. 13, "Who God!" Put me not off with com- was before a persecutor, and inmon mercy that reprobates may jurious; but I obtained mercy." have; give me not only alcorns I was bemiracled with mercy: as but pearls; give me not only the sea overflows and breaks down mercy to feed and clothe me, but the banks, so the mercy of God mercy to save me; give me the did break down the banks of my cream of thy mercies; Lord, let sin, and mercy did sweetly flow me have mercy and loving-kind- into my soul. You that have ness! Ps. ciii. 4., "Who crown-been monuments of God's eth thee with loving-kindness and should be trumpets of praise; tender mercies." Give me such you that have tasted the Lord is mercy as speaks thy electing love to my soul! O pray for mercy! God hath treasures of mercy; prayer is the key that opens these treasures; and in prayer, be sure to carry Christ in your arms; all the mercy comes through Christ: 1 Sam. vii. 9., "Samuel took a sucking lamb;" carry the lamb Christ in your arms,-go in his name, present his merits,-say, "Lord, here is Christ's blood, which is the price of my pardon! Lord, shew me mercy, because Christ hath purchased it!" Though God may refuse us when we come for mercy in our own name, yet not when we come in Christ's name: plead Christ's satisfaction, and this is mercy, gracious, tell others what experiences you have had of God's mercy, that you may encourage them to seek to him for mercy, Ps. lxvi. 16., "I will declare what God hath done for my soul;" when I found my heart dead, God's Spirit did come upon me mightily, and the blowing of that wind made the withering flowers of my grace revive. O tell others of God's goodness, that you may set others a blessing him, and that you may make God's praises live when you are dead!-2. To love God. Mercy should be the attractive of love: Ps. xviii. 1., "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." The Hebrew word for love, signifies love out of the inward bowels. God's justice shewing mercy. God is the Famay make us fear him, his mercy ther of mercy; shew yourselves may make us love him. If mercy to be his children, by being like will not produce love, what will? him. St. Ambrose saith, "The We are to love God for giving us sum and definition of religion is, our food, much more for giving Be rich in works of mercy, be us grace; for sparing mercy, helpful to the bodies and souls of much more for saving mercy. others. Scatter your golden seeds; Sure that heart is made of mar- let the lamp of your profession be ble, which the mercy of God will filled with the oil of charity. Be not dissolve in love! "I would merciful in giving and forgiving. bate my own soul (saith St. Au- Be ye merciful, as your heagustine), if I did not find it lov-venly Father is merciful.'' ing God."-3. To imitate God in OF THE TRUTH OF GOD. THE next attribute is God's whereby he is able to fulfil the truth, Deut. xxxii. 4., "A God promise, God hath promised to of truth, and without iniquity; subdue our corruption, Micah vii. just and right is he;" Ps. lvii. 10., 19., "He will subdue our ini'For thy mercy is great unto the quities." O! saith a believer, heavens, and thy truth unto the my corruption is so strong, that clouds." A God of truth, sure I shall never get the mastery Ps. lxxxvi. 15., " Plenteous in of it. Thus Abraham looked at truth." God is the truth. He is God's power, Rom. iv. 21., true: 1. In a physical sense; true "Being fully persuaded that what in his being; he hath a real sub- God had promised, he was able sistence, and gives a being to also to perform." He believed, others. 2. He is true in a moral that God, who could make a world, sense; he is true sine errore, could make dry beasts give suck. without errors; et sine fallacia, This is faith's support, there is without deceit. God is prima nothing too hard for God. He veritas,--the pattern and prototype that could bring water out of a of truth. There is nothing true rock, is able to bring to pass his but what is in God, or comes promises.-2. The truth of God from God. I shall now speak of in the promises: God's truth is God's truth, as it is taken from the seal set to the promise. Tit. his veracity in making good his i. 2., " In hope of eternal life, promises, 1 Kings viii. 56., which God that cannot lie hath There hath not failed one word promised." 'Eternal life,' there of all his good promise." The is the sweetness of the promise: promise is God's bond, God's truth is the seal set to his bond. This is the thing to be explicated and discussed, God's truth in fulfilling his promises. There are two things to be observed in the promises of God to comfort us: 1. The power of God, God which cannot lie,' there is the certainty of it. Mercy makes the promise, truth fulfils it. God's providences are uncertain, but his promises are the 'sure mercies of David,' Acts xiii. 24.; "God is not a man that he should repent," 1 Sam. xv. 29. The word of a |