2. As there could have been no place for the exercife of the divine mercy, unless mifery had made its entrance among creatures; fo, nor could there have been place for the exercife of mercy between man and man, if mankind were not miferable.

3. Mercy, as it is a chriftian virtue, must have its feat in the beart and temper; therefore, we are commanded to "put on bowels of mercies." It is alfo like all other chriftian graces, a fruit of the Spirit; a part of that image of GoD reinftampt upon the fallen foul, in converfion.-There may be a counterfeit appearance of mercy in the actions, from ostentation, or base and unworthy designs, where there are no bowels of mercies, but rather a cruel or unfeeling difpofition. The apoftle puts the highest outward appearance of a merciful difpofition which can be well conceived, and yet fuppofes, that the perfon may be wholly void of the grace of mercy itfelf.*

4. A merciful difpofition, where it is, will give evidence of itfelf by outward correspondent actions. A pretence to a merciful difpofition, where there is no outward fruits of it, when proper opportunities offer themfelves, is the vileft mockery; and is finely expofed by the apoftles James and John.t

I Cor. xiii. 3.

t James in 15, 16. 1 John iii, 17, 18.

5. There may be a very merciful difpo Яtion in the heart, where the person who has it, has it not in his power to give very convincing proofs of it, by his actions. However, where it is, it will prompt a person to do all that he can to give proof of it. He will, at least, pity and sympathize with his fuffering fellow creature, and what he can do more, he will do it to relieve him. Now, if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted of God, according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.*

6. Mercy, as a chriftian grace, has its first and chief respect to men's souls; the troubles and miferies which they fuffer, and the dangers to which they are exposed by fin And indeed, this concern for the mifery of men's fouls, is the chief character which diftinguishes christian mercy from mere humanity. How many good natured men in the world, whofe hearts bleed to fee a fellow creature in bodily pain or mifery, and who would go almoft any lengths to relieve him; yet have no mercy on their own fouls, or the fouls of their fellow finners, but would fee them go to hell, and help them thither, without the least attempt to prevent it: But christian mercy bleeds, and is moved chiefly, by the misery and danger of human souls; does all that it can to inftruct the ignorant, and to reclaim the wicked and erroneous;

* 2 Cor. viii. 12.

and what it cannot do itself, it rejoices to fee done by others, and gives every encou ragement in its power, to defigns and endeavors to reform men's manners and fave their fouls, that they may be plucked as brands out of the burning.-Noble proofs and examples of this merciful difpofition, we have in Lot, David, and the prophets, and efpecially in Christ and his apostles.

7. Mercy is not confined to the soul, but reaches to the whole man. Here it ftrikes in with bumanity, and improves it; weeping with them that weep, and looking not only at its own things, but alfo on the things of others. It pities and fympathizes with the pains and difeafes of others' bodies; the troubles and perplexities of their minds; their wants and neceffities; their difafters and disappointments; their opreffions and afflictions. And when in its pow. er, it labors to mitigate all thefe afflictions, by drawing out its foul to the hungry; by clothing the naked; by helping the fick; by pleading the caufe of the oppreffed; by adminiftering counfel to the perplexed, and comfort to the forrowing and afflicted. And whereas, mere humanity only does thefe things from instinct, and to ease the anxiety of the mind on the fight of diftrefs;

the merciful chriftian does them from love to his neighbor, from a confideration of duty, and from obedience to the authority of GoD.

8. But a merciful difpofition is feen in its greatest luftre and advantage, when it pities and forgives perfons who, by injuri ous treatment to ourfelves, are wholly at our mercy, and upon whom we have it fully in our power to glut our revenge; yea, when we may do fo under the color of juftice. This is God-like mercy indeed! But,

9. It belongs to chriftian wisdom and prudence to judge, to whom, and how far, fuch acts of mercy fhould extend. That lenity which would prompt us to give up our rights upon all occafions to lawlefs men, might often be of mischievous confequence-It might often tend to harden finners in their vices, and embolden them to treat others as they have done us, with hopes of impunity. By forgiving a man who attempts my life, I may procure the murder of other innocent perfons. By pardoning and giving liberty to a robber, whom I have caught breaking open my houfe, and pillaging my goods, I embolden this villain to rob my neighbors. Nor is it in all cafes proper or prudent for a man to forgive perfonal injuries, without legal fatisfaction and exemplary punishment. Acts of lenity and mercy to offenders, fhould always confift with a proper concern for the public good, and our own perfonal fafety.

10. Chriftian mercy, however, is always forry for the authors of injuries, and heartily wishes their repentance and eternal welfare. It will never admit of cruelty or revenge against an offender. If his crime will admit of it, it is willing to forgive him, upon proper marks of repentance. If punifhment is neceffary, it would have it to be of the mildest and gentleft nature, that the offence will admit of; and it pities the perfon of the guilty fufferer, and would rejoice if the punishment might be wholly remitted-having nothing at heart but the intereft of human fociety, virtue and juftice; and, like GoD, taking no pleasure in the mifery of finners.

11. There is alfo ample room for the difplay of mercy, in the exaction of debts. If the debtor is fallen into poverty by accidents or misfortunes, it will bear with him, if able; or if able, and circumftances allow, will remit part or whole of the debt: Or, if he is even bankrupt by his own fault, and therefore, juftly deferves to fuffer as a criminal, yet it will confider the neceffitous circumftances of his innocent family and connexions, and will remit what it can on their behalf.

12. Though mercy fhould extend to all in these instances; yet it will be shown in the first place, and in the highest degree, to those whom GoD and nature hath con