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1. What Mercy is.
2. The mercy of the unreasonable creatures.
3. The mercy of men, both had man & good men.
4. The mercy of God.
5. Applications to edifie.
6. Questions resolved.
MErcy is a pittying of them that are in misery: Mercy and Misery are Relatives; were there no
want, nor trespasse, there needed no mercy; mercy is in the affection, or expression; in the affection it is tearmed bowels of mercy, in the expression, workes of mercy.
THey have a kinde of mercy in their natures to their owne kind, or to other kinds. First, to their owne kind, so every Creature with a tendernesse nourishes their yong: the Dragons nourish their young, and the Beares licke their whelpes to their owne shape, and suckle them. 2. The creatures shew mercy to other kinds: Some say, the Lyon preyes not so soone, or not at all on the yeelding creatures: the Thunder passes over the yeelding Reed, and rends the sturdy Oake‖ 1.1: The Hawke resting all night by the Larke, flyes another way in the morning, being gratefully mercifull to the little bird: Those that read in naturall Histories can say much of this.
NAturally we being children of wrath, have lost the disposition to mercy: wicked men are cru∣ell, not mercifull. Prov. 12.10. One man is a Wolfe to another, unlesse God restraines us. Cain and Absolon did kill their owne brothers, Hazael and Ravilliack* 1.2 their Kings; Iudas betrayes his Lord and Master, Saul kills all the Priests, &c. Some are restrained for the good of humane society; but all the mercy of a naturall man is for bad ends, or constrained.
The truely mercifull man is the regenerate man; these have found mercy from God, and are mercifull to o∣thers; these by meditation or visitation are moved to mercy, and exercise it by counselling the ignorant, com∣forting
the dejected soule, relieving the needy; and sometimes their mercy is exercised in forgiving as well as giving.
MErcy is essentiall in God; Hee is the fountaine of mercy, the Father of mercies. Here wee may for method consider,
1. The cause of Gods mercy, no cause in us, no cause out of himselfe; he hath mercy on whom he will. Rom. 9.18. His owne good pleasure is the cause.
2. The kinds of mercies; his mercies are generall to all, or speciall to his elect. Math. 5. 1 Tim. 1.15.
3. The effects of his mercy is all the good that the Creature doth enjoy, all is of mercy, not merit.
4. The largenesse of his mercy; He is great in mercy, Psal. 119 156. Rich in mercy. Ephes. 2.4.
5. The seasonablenesse of his mercy; He shews mercy in due time. Ps. 9. In the Mount he will be seene. Gen. 22.14. When our feet slip, his mercy will helpe us. Ps. 94.18
6. The variety of his mercies on every faculty of our soules, and member of our bodies: His mercies are mul∣titudes. Psal. 51.1.
7. The constancy of his mercy, it is for ever. Psalme 136.1. Isai. 54.8. Psal. 52.1, 2.
* 1.31. IF unreasonable Creatures doe shew mercy to their young ones, it condemneth the cruelty of those Harlots that make away their young children, or lay them in the streete, and leave them; they adde to their filthinesse cruelty, and are to be, ranked among those vile sinners, Rom. 1.31. that are without naturall affections. Also the Storke and* 1.4 Hart shew mercy to their old
Dammes and Sires, condemning churlish children, which are cruell to their old Parents.
From the wicked:
2. If the mercies of the wicked be cruell, then never trust to their mercy, for there is no assurance thereof: pray to God that we fall not into their hands. Zede∣kia's eyes were pulled out, so were Sampsons: they rip up women with child, they burne and destroy where they get the upper hand.
3. We may ghesse at a sound professor by his mercy; many have great blazes, but no mercies: pride, and pompe, and belly-cheere, and vanity takes up their hearts and purses: they are much for curiosity, but little for mercy: but a good man is mercifull. Psal. 37.
1. He considers the poore and needy; he judges wise∣ly of their estates. Psal. 41.1.
2. He hath thoughts to doe them good, hee devises how to be liberall. Isaiah 32.
3. He considers his owne ability. Acts 11.29.
4. He considers his brothers necessity. Rom. 12.
5. Hee lookes to his relation; beginning at his center, and working toward his circumference: as first,* 1.5 the houshold of faith. Gal. 6.13. Secondly, our families. 1. Tim. 5.8. Thirdly, our Country-men. Psalme 122.8. Fourthly, the stranger: we must do good to all, using di∣scretion in our doing good. Psal. 112.
[Vse 5] Fifthly, is God mercifull? this should teach us:
1. To praise God for his mercy. Psal. 136.1. a∣bove all mercies for our redemption: this mercy was promised, Luke 1.72. and in tender mercy performed. Luk. 1.78. by this mercy we that were blinde and igno∣rant are holpen by Christ, who is our wisedome: we that were guilty are justified by him he is our righteousnesse: we that were polluted, have him for our holinesse, we that were captives have him for redemption. 1 Cor 1.30.
2. We should imitate God by being mercifull, Luk.
6.36. the more mercy, the more like God.
3. We are to be humble, because wee need mercy; for we are poore, and neede mercy. Rev. 3.17. wee are transgressors and neede mercy. Isaiah 48.8.
4. We should labour for those qualifications, that we may be under the promises of mercy, and be assured of mercy. As these following.
1. To confesse our sinnes, and forsake them. Prover. 28.13.
2. To feare God: his mercy is on them that feare him. Luke 1.50.
3. To love God: hee shewes mercy to them that love him Exod. 20.6.
4. To trust in God, then mercy shall compasse us, Psal. 32.10.
5. To thinke on good things, then wee shall have mercy. Prov. 14.22.
6. To be mercifull, then we shall obtaine mercy. Matth. 5.7.
7. To keepe close to the rule of Gods word. Galat. 6.16.
[Quest. 1] HOw must I shew mercy to them that offend mee?
[Answ.] There is forgiving mercy that must be practised.
1. To have a disposition to forgive without acknow∣ledgement.
2. To forgive willingly upon acknowledgement.
3. To pray for the offender.
4. To be grieved if any crosse befall him.
5. To doe him good cheerefully if we can.
[Quest. 2] What mercy is to be shewed to beggers at the doore?
[Answ.] Some hold they are not to be releeved: but we have
a rule to doe good to all: Gal. 6.9. and God causes his Sunne to shine on the evill and good. Matth. 5. They must be weaklings, not sturdy rogues; such as are ready to perish, though they be evill, their persons must bee nourisht, not their evils maintained: 'tis mercy to in∣struct them with our reliefe.
[Quest. 3] How shall a man obtaine a mercifull heart?
[Answ.] 1. He must see his neede of Gods mercy, and humble himselfe till he feeles Gods mercy towards him.
2. He must looke on miseries: the heart is much af∣fected by the eye.
3. He must put himselfe in the condition of the sicke, the prisoner, the captive, the oppressed, the hungry, the troubled in minde.
4. He must be often in the acts of mercy, that by de∣grees there may be obtained the greater disposition.
5. Looke on the example of the mercifull, see how mercy doth beautifie them, and make them amiable.
6. Lay Gods commands to heart: Luke 6.36. Bee ye mercifull.
7. Consider the estate of the unmercifull: They shall have judgement mercilesse. Iames 2.13.
8. Lastly, pray to God to encline the heart to mercy and compassion: Aske, and yee shall have. Matth. 7.
[Quest. 4] What are the benefits of a mercifull heart?
[Answ.] 1. Mercy makes a man like God. Luke 6.36.
2. The mercifull have many a prayer for them, and they cause God to be praised by many. 2. Cor. 9.12.
3. The mercifull are under the promise. Matth. 5.7, What the broken heart seekes, the mercifull heart findes at last; that is, mercy.
4. The mercifull heart hath a mercifull hand: so hee sowes seed, and hereafter shall have a loyfull harvest. 2 Cor. 9.6.
5. Whensoever he goes to prayer, he shall bee sure to be heard. Isai. 58.7, 8, 9, 10.
D. Bartas.
Ravilliacke killed Henry the fourth.
From the un∣reasonable creatures.
The young Hart carries water in the mouth to give the old one, D Bartas saith.
Among them.