A sermon preached in St. Paul's before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor

But we no sooner hear of sincerity, but presently mercy like Rachel as the more beautiful calls upon us for our love to her. I will not curiously inquire into the reason, why justice is bid to be done, but mercy to be loved: for of Christ it is said that he loved righteousness, Psal. 45. 1. But surely for the punishing part of justice, Jeremiah tells us, that he did not desire the woeful day though he did denounce it, Jer. 17. 16. yea God ⟨p. 22⟩himself when he oft beateth, doth it not willingly, he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner; but when he saveth, when he showeth mercy, in that he delighteth, Mic. 7. 18.

But we no sooner hear of sincerity, but presently mercy like Rachel as the more beautiful calls upon us for our love to her. I will not curiously inquire into the reason, why justice is bid to be done, but mercy to be loved: for of Christ it is said that he loved righteousness, Psal. 45. 1. But surely for the punishing part of justice, Ieremy tells us, that he did not desire the wofull day though he did denounce it, Ier. 17. 16. yea God ⟨p. 22⟩himself when he oft beateth, doth it not willingly, he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner; but when he saveth, when he sheweth mercy, in that he delighteth, Mic. 7. 18.

Haply to give unto a man that which he hath a just property and claim unto, men can be contented to do; 'tis violence and robbery to withhold it: but when we must give that which is our own to another, here grudging and unwillingness may creep in upon us. Now in justice I give a man that which is his, but in mercy I give that which is mine own; and therefore to prevent repining, I am called upon not only to do it, but to do it cheerfully, heartily, willingly, to love mercy, to draw out the soul in it,