The harmonie of Holie Scriptures vvith the seuerall sentences of sundry learned and vvorthy vvriters : collected for the comfort of all such as are desirous to seeke after theyr soules health / by I.B.

§. 3.

Oh how excellent, (as Dauid saith) is the mercy of the Lord our God! therefore the chyldren of men (saith he) put theyr trust vnder the shadow of his winges.

The very remembrance of Gods mercie, (saith Bernard) maketh glad the harts of all the godly: and the hope of heauens helpe is comfortable to euerie penitent person.

The tongues of all men liuing, (saith Marlorate) cannot tell out Gods mercie: nor the pennes of all the VVriters in the vvorld, sufficiently expresse the same.

His wrath, (as Erasmus saith) is alvvaies giuen by weight; but is mercie is infinite, without either end or measure.

Besides; if wee aske yet further, after the seuerall workes of Gods mercy, wee shall

finde, (as S. Augustine saith) that they passe all number, as there can be no nūber made of our miseries, and daily necessities.

For, what man liuing, (saith Becon) can tell how often through frailtie he hath of∣fended, or truely reckon, how many waies he hath been preserued frō perrill, through the onely mercy of the Almightie exten∣ded towards him?

Also; If the sinnes of all the world, were (as S. Chrisostome saith) in one man, yet would they be nothing to the mercy of the Almightie: but the burthen of them, in comparison of his mercie, woulde seeme like the Spyders webbe, before the boyste∣rous winde.

Yea; the multitude of all mens offences, in respect of Gods mercie, is like a small drop of raine to the greatest Sea.

Notes

• Psalm, 36, 7,
• Bernard.
• Marlorate.
• Erasmus.
• Augustine.
• Becon.
• Chrisostome.
• •• Fulgentius.