708 The .Mercy qt. God. TQ L he laiddown his life for us. But whofo hath this world's goods, and feeth his brother have need, &c. how dwelleth the love of God in him ? That Man hathno fenfe of the mercy of God abiding upon his Heart, that is not merciful to his Brother. And 'tis an Argument why we Should 'forgive one another ; Eph. 4. 32. Beye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chr;/l's fake hath forgiven you. Chap. S. a. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear Chil- dren. Col. 3. i z, a 3. Put on therefore (as the dell of God holyand beloved bow- els of mercies, kindnefs, humblenefs of mind, meeknefs, longfufering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any Man have .a quarrel againfi any : even as Chrifl forgaveyou, fo alfo doye. And we continually f}and in need of mercyboth from God and Man. We are liable one to another, and in the change of Human Affairs, we may be all fub- jeát to one another by turns, and Rand in need of one another's pity and com- paffïon ; and we muff expe(t, that with what,meafure we mete to-others, with the fame it (hall be meafured to us again. To refirain the Cruelties and check the In- folencies of Men, God has fo order'd in his Providence, tha[ very often in this World Men's Cruelties return upon their own heads; and their violent dealings upon their ownpates. Bajazet meets with a Tamerlane. But if Men were not thus liable to one another, we all ftand in need of,mer. cy from God. If we be merciful to others in fuffering, and forgive them that have injured us, God will be fo to us, he will pardon our fins to us. Prey. x6. S. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged. z Sam. zz. 26. With the merciful thou wilt /hew thy. Pelf merciful. Prov. 14. ta. he that kath mercy on thepoor, happy is he. Prov. zr. zr. he that followeth after mercy Judith life. Matth. 6. 14. Ifye for- give men their trefpafes, your heavenly father will alfo forgive you. But on the other hand, if we be malicious and revengeful, and implacable to thofe that have offended us, and inexorable to thofe who delire to be received to favour, and cruel to thofe who lye at our mercy, hard-hearted to them that are in ne- cefiity ; what can we expe6l, but that the mercy of God will leave us, that he will forget to begracious, and Phut up in anger his tender mercy. Mat. 6. 75. Ifye forgive not Men their trefpajles, neither will your heavenly Father forgiveyour tref- pafjes. That is a dreadful Pafrage, S. games z. 73. He fie havejudgment with.: out merry that bath (hewed no mercy. How angry is the Lord with the Servant who was fo inexorable to his fellow Servant, after he had forgiven him fo great a debt, as you find in the Parable, Mat. 18. 2.4. He owed him Ten Thoufand Talents, and upon his fubmiflion and intreaty to have patience with him, he was moved with companion and loofed him, and forgave him all : but no fooner had this favour been done to him by his Lord, but going forth he meets his fellow Servant, who owed him a (mall inconfiderable debt, an hundred Pence ; he lays Hands on him, and takes him by the Throat, and roundly demands payment of him : he falls down at his Feet, and ufeth the fame form of fupplication that he had ufed to his Lord, but he reje6ts his requeft, and puts him in Prifon. Now what faith the Lord to him ? v. 32, 33, 34. 0 thou wickedServant, I forgave thee all that debt, becaufe thou defiredfl me. Shouldeff not thou alfo have had corn- pagan an thy fellowfervant, even as I had pity on thee ? Andthe Lord was wrath, and deliver'd him, to the tormentors, "till hefhouldpayall that was due unto him. Now what application doth our Saviour make of this ? v. 35.. So likewí'fe Jhall my bea- venly Father do afo untoyou, ifye from your hearts forgive not every one bis brother their trefpafes. God's readinefs to forgive us fhould be a powerful motive and argument to us to forgive others. The greateft Injuries that we can fuller from Men, if we compare them to the Sins that we commit againft God, they bear no proportion to them, neither in weight nor number ; they are but as an hundredpence to ten thoufandtalents. If we would be likeGod, we fhould forgive the greateft Inju- ries ; he pardoneth our Sins tho' they be exceeding great ; many Injuries, tho' Offences be renewed, and Provocations multiplied ; for fo God doth to us, He pnrdoneth iniquity, tranfreon, and /?n, Ex. 34. 7. Ifa. SS. 7. He will havemercy, hewill abundantly pardon. We would not have God only to forgiveus fevers times, but
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