A Body of Practical Divinity

Position 2. God is more inclinable to Mercy then Wrath: Pronior est Deus ad parcendum quam ad puniendum. Mercy is his darling Attribute which he most delights in, Mic. 7.18. Mercy pleaseth him. 'Tis delightful to the Mother, saith Chryso|'stom, to have her Breasts drawn. So it is to God to have the Breasts of his Mercy drawn. Isa. 27.4. Fury is not in me: That is, I do not delight in it. Acts of Severity are rather forced from God, he doth not afflict willingly, Lam. 3.33. The Bee naturally gives Honey, it stings only when it is provoked. God doth not punish till he can bear no longer, Jer. 44.22. So that the Lord could bear no longer, because of the evil of your doings. Mercy is God's right Hand, that he is most used to. Inflicting of Punishment is called God's strange Work, Isa. 28.21. he is not used to it. And when the Lord would shave off the Pride of a Nation, he is said to hire a Razor, as if he had none of his own, Isa. 7.20. He shall shave with a razor that is hired. He is slow to anger, Psal. 103.8. But ready to forgive, Psal. 86.5.

Position 2. God is more inclinable to Mercy then Wrath: Pronior est Deus ad parcendum quam ad puniendum. Mercy is his darling Attribute which he most delights in, Mic. 7.18. Mercy pleaseth him. 'Tis delightful to the Mother, saith Chryso|'stom, to have her Breasts drawn. So it is to God to have the Breasts of his Mercy drawn. Isa. 27.4. Fury is not in me: That is, I do not delight in it. Acts of Severity are rather forc'd from God, he doth not afflict willingly,