342 The feverall wcrl¿irSs of Malty in the heart. the fourth thing, a.carefull improvement. Fifthly, The act of mercy is tube willing to part -with much for others, improve it Batty for their good, or lend them, but part with it I will not ; but mercy will part with 'any thing that it bath, it is my owne, but how is it my owne á- it is my owne as a (reward, and not to be ufed as I pleafe , therefore if I fee that the Lord bath need of it, or, 'my brother bath need that God may have glory and good may be done, lam as willing to part with it as ever I was to receive it. Sixthly, If any bath offended he is ready to pardon, full of pitty that way, therein men of mean.: etlares may be merciful as well as others, though I tee mifcarriages in or hers that 'lath need of me , though I fee they are unthankful!, they are unworthy , yet mercy pafles by unworthin. ffe, and wrongs. Seventhly, it keeps back juflice for a time ; though it will not hinder ;uflice but that it (hall have her glory in time, yet -mercy may caufe afo,bearance of the flroake of juflice, when juflice is ready to ftrike the flroke,mercy conies in,as the mer- cy of God when jufice is firiking the t }roake, it comes in and pleads, Lord spare, fare yet a little while: As when Abraham, was lifting up the knife to cut the throat of Ifaac, the Angft cryes from Heaven, Abraharn flay thy hand, as the mer, y òf God Both, fo the mercy-of man it fo. beares juflice, and will not have juflice in the rigour and full extent of it to, be execu- ted. It caufes to forbeare a while,to fee whither there may not fomething be done wherein the offender may be fpared and juflice nor wronged, and it will moderate the work of as much as it can. Eightly, and Lafil,y, Mercy will caufe one to put ones felt=;, into the fame condition as thole are in that are in mifery,whe ther it be in regard'of poverty or p inc or what kind foever it be ; mercy caufes one to put himfelfe into the fame flare, to be in bonds with chafe that are in:bonds, and ro weep with thofe that weep : It's true, I am in this comfortable condition any felfe, and have abundance of choice enjoyments, but what are
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