A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

(4) Delightful and pleasant mercy. He delights in pardoning mercy, as a Father delights in his Children. He is therefore called the Father of mercy, Micah 7.18. he pardons iniquity, and retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy. Never did we take so much pleasure in sinning, as God doth in forgiving. Never did any penitent take so much pleasure in receiving, as God doth in giving a pardon: He so much delights in it, that he counts it his wealth; Riches of grace, riches of mercy, glorious riches of mercy; no Attribute else is called his riches. He sighs when he must draw his Sword, Hos. 11.8. How shall I give thee up, O Ephraim! But when he blots out iniquity, then it is, I, even I am he that blots out your transgressions for my Names sake. His delight in this is equal to the delight he hath in his Name. This is pure mercy, to change the Tribunal of Justice into a Throne of Grace; to bestow pardons, where he might inflict punishments, and to put on the deportment of a Father instead of that of a Judge.

4. The Act of his Justice. Those Attributes which seem contrary, are joined together to produce forgiveness: Yet God is not to be considered in pardon only as Judex, but paternus Judex; there is a composition of Judge and Father in this act; Free Grace on God's part, but Justice upon the account of Christ. That God will accept of a satisfaction is Mercy, that he will not forgive without a satisfaction is Justice: Mercy forgives it in us, though Justice did punish it in Christ. Christ by his death paid the debt, and God by the Resurrection of Christ discharged the debt; and therefore the Justice of God is engaged to bestow pardon upon a Believer. God set forth Christ as a propitiation, that he might be just, and therefore a justifier of him that believes, Rom. 3.26. Either the debt is paid, or not; if not, then Christ's Death is in vain; if it be, then God's Justice is so equitable, as not to demand a second payment. Therefore another Apostle joins faithful and righteous; it might have been faithful and merciful, faithful and loving; but faithful and righteous, or just takes in the Attribute, which is most terrible to man,