ObjeEf of Mercy. 345 Sixthly, Further , The conlideration of the relation that there have to God that are in mifery, let it be any creature, yet it hash tome relation to God, any bruit creature, 'tis the creature of God, and to it bath relation ro him, it's the work of Gods hands, but if he be a man, much, more, if he be a Chrifiian)much more, if a Saiint,much more, the relation that a thing bath to God, and being in mifery, that moves a graci- bus man, it doth not move one that is mov'd in a way of na- tural( pitty, but thole that are mercifull in a gracious way, the relation that any thing bath to God, that's a mighty motive to mercy. Seventhly, The confiderarion that I (hall honour God in this way ofmercy, not meerly that I would help others in mifery , or be well fpoken of (or the like) but I lhall ho- nour God in this way of mercy, and it is this that moves my heart. Eíghtly, And the very love to the exercife of mercy it felf, and love tofuchas are in mifery, though they be ftrangers, whosoever they be, this works in a mercifull heart, and that's the fecond thing, the motives or what it is that lets a merciful man on work in the wayes ofmercy. For the Objef : But a word, ( for it was intimated in The OW. the relation that a thing a thing bath to God) we are to be merciful!. Firit, To all that are in mifery, a good man is mercifull to his bea(I, look upon your beaff and confider, there is not fuch a difiance between you and that, you are all of one lump,God might have made you a toade, the vileft creature that is, and therefore God expe&s that you lhould ufe his creatures that he bath an interefl in,that you fhould ufe themmercifully and not cruelly. Secondly; We are to be mercifull to all mankind, if you donor give to fuch and fuch an one as a man,give it tö humane nature, to farre as not to fuller them to peri,h except it be in fome cafes thaz-rhe. Scripture would have others to perih if they continu -obflinately in wickedneffe, as he that will not worke, let him not eat faith the Scripture, or if they fin, in the Y y way
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