A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Twelfthly, A godly man may argue thus. Such as are truly ⟨p. 35⟩and graciously merciful, are blessed, and shall obtain mercy, Mat. 5.7.¹ (Mercy is a commiserating of another mans misery in our hearts, or a sorrow for another mans distress, or a heart-grieving for another mans grief, arising out of an unfeigned love unto the party afflicted. Or more plainly thus: Mercy is a pitying of another mans misery, with a desire and endeavour to help him to the uttermost of our ability. The Hebrew for godly, [Greek or Hebrew] Chasid signifies gracious, merciful. The more godly any man is, the more merciful that man will be. Blessed are the merciful, that is, blessed are they that show mercy to others, out of a deep sense of the mercy of God to them in Christ: Blessed are such who show mercy out of love to mercy, out of a delight in mercy; blessed are such as show mercy out of love and obedience to the God of mercy; blessed are such as show mercy to men in misery, upon the account of the image of God, the glory of God that is stamped upon them; blessed are such as extend their piety and mercy, not only to mens bodies, but also to their precious and immortal souls: Soul-mercy is the chief of mercies; the soul is the most precious jewel in all the world, it is a vessel of honour, 'tis a spark of glory, 'tis a bud of eternity, 'tis the price of blood, 'tis beautified with the image of God, 'tis adorned with the grace of God, and 'tis clothed with the righteousness of God; such are blessed as show mercy to others, from gracious motives and considerations, viz. 'Tis free mercy that every day keeps hell and my soul asunder, 'tis mercy that daily pardons my sins, 'tis mercy that supplies all my inward and outward wants, 'tis mercy that preserves, and feeds, and clothes my outward man, and 'tis mercy that renews, strengthens and prospers my inward man, 'tis mercy that has kept me many times from committing such and such sins, 'tis mercy that has kept me many a time from falling before such and such temptations, 'tis mercy that has many a time preserved me from being swallowed up by such and such inward and outward afflictions. Such as show mercy out of a design to exalt and glorify the God of mercy, such who show most mercy to them to whom God shows most mercy; these are blessed, and shall obtain mercy.