Men are merciful, Prov. 11.17. Psal. 37.26. So are Angels in a sense; but none of them comparable to God: The tender Mercies of the Wicked, yea of the righteous Men, yea of Angels, are Cruelties to the Mercies of God. Have they such Pity, such Bowels for miserable Creatures as God hath? Have they such Power, such Ability, to relieve afflicted Ones as God hath? Can they afford preserving, protecting Mercy, as God, Job 10.12. Pardoning and forgiving Mercy, Micah 7.18. Purifying and renewing Mercy, Ephes. 2.4. Saving and eternal Mercy, Tit. 3.5, 6. O how infinitely short do they come of him. He is so incomparable in Mercy, that Mercy is said to belong only to him: Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth Mercy, Psal. 62.10. Unto thee, and none but thee. He is so merciful, that when his Bowels conflict with justice on the behalf of Sinners, and get the upper hand, he rejoiceth in the Victory; Mercy rejoiceth against Judgment, James 2.14. He is so merciful, that he dispenseth with his own Institutions, for the sake of it, Hos. 6.6. Math. 9.13. with Math. 12.7. Once more, he ⟨p. 93⟩is so merciful, that he is upbraided with it, as if he were too fond of that Attribute, and loved it over-much, Jonah 4.2. Was not this my saying in my own Country? for I knew that thou wast merciful. Thou didst send me to Preach Destruction and Desolation to Nineveh, but when I received the Message, I knew all would be prevented by mercy, and that to Preach such a Threatening, was but to disgrace and dishonour my self, as a false Prophet, before the men of Nineveh; for I thought then, what is now come to pass, that notwithstanding the peremptoriness of the Message, Mercy would interpose, and prove me false.
Men are merciful, Prov. 11.17. Psal. 37.26. So are Angels in a sense; but none of them comparable to God: The tender Mercies of the Wicked, yea of the righteous Men, yea of Angels, are Cruelties to the Mercies of God. Have they such Pity, such Bowels for miserable Creatures as God hath? Have they such Power, such Ability, to relieve afflicted Ones as God hath? Can they afford preserving, protecting Mercy, as God, Job 10.12. Pardoning and forgiving Mercy, Micah 7.18. Purifying and renewing Mercy, Ephes. 2.4. Saving and eternal Mercy, Tit. 3.5, 6. O how infinitely short do they come of him. He is so incomparable in Mercy, that Mercy is said to belong onely to him: Ʋnto thee, O Lord, belongeth Mercy, Psal. 62.10. Unto thee, and none but thee. He is so merciful, that when his Bowels conflict with justice on the behalf of Sinners, and get the upper hand, he rejoyceth in the Victory; Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment, James 2.14. He is so merciful, that he dispenseth with his own Institutions, for the sake of it, Hos. 6.6. Math. 9.13. with Math. 12.7. Once more, he ⟨p. 93⟩is so merciful, that he is upbraided with it, as if he were too fond of that Attribute, and loved it over-much, Jonah 4.2. Was not this my saying in my own Country? for I knew that thou wast merciful. Thou didst send me to Preach Destruction and Desolation to Nineveh, but when I received the Message, I knew all would be prevented by mercy, and that to Preach such a Threatning, was but to disgrace and dishonor my self, as a false Prophet, before the men of Nineveh; for I thought then, what is now come to pass, that notwithstanding the peremptoriness of the Message, Mercy would interpose, and prove me false.
