A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. ^*'Tis the aim of the whole Scripture to represent God merciful: 'Tis true, God is infinitely just, as well as infinitely merciful; but he delighteth in gracious discoveries of himself to the creature; he counteth it his glory. Moses was earnest with God to show him his Glory, and then God proclaimeth his Name, Exod. 34. 5, 6. The Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, &c. In this description there is more spoken of his Mercy, then of his Justice; and first his Mercy is described, and then his Justice; for Justice is only added to invite men to take hold of his Mercy, and to show that Justice is never exercised but in avenging the quarrel of abused Mercy. So he is called a God of pardon, Nehem. 9. 17. as if wholly made up of sweetness. So 2 Cor. 1. 3. he is called ^*Father of mercies, and God of all consolations; He is a just God, but he is not called the Father of Justice: Mercy is natural to him; he counteth it as the proper fruit and product of the divine Essence.

1. ^*'Tis the aim of the whole Scripture to represent God merciful: 'Tis true, God is infinitely just, as well as infinitely merciful; but he delighteth in gracious discoveries of himself to the creature; he counteth it his glory. Moses was earnest with God to shew him his Glory, and then God proclaimeth his Name, Exod. 34. 5, 6. The Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, &c. In this description there is more spoken of his Mercy, then of his Justice; and first his Mercy is described, and then his Justice; for Justice is only added to invite men to take hold of his Mercy, and to shew that Justice is never exercised but in avenging the quarrel of abused Mercy. So he is called a God of pardon,