The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 23
§. XXIII. Of Mercy.
THe ſecond generall duty2 To louelove mercy. which wee owe to all men, is Mercy: it is charged vponupon vsus by the Prophet Micah in this phraſe, that we louelove mercy; moſt of the rules that direct vsus herein, are comprehended vnderunder theſe two words.
Firſt it muſt be mercy: and ſo
1 For the kinds thereof, mercy Spirituall to the ſoules of men, Corporall to their bodily life by Lending, Giuing, Protecting, Releaſing, Viſiting, Forgiuing, clothing.
Not ſaying to the poore, goe warme thy ſelfe and be filled, when he is naked and deſtitute of dayly foode: what doth this profit; are words, mercy? Iam. 2. 15. 16.
2 For the perſons, mercy is a worke of reliefe done to men in miſery; therefore it is not mercy … in nee…leſſe entertainment on the rich, whereby thou …r …bled to g…ue to the poore, …. 14. 13. He that oppreſſeth, the po…re to encreaſe his riches, …d he that giueth to the rich, ſhall ſurely come to want. Pro. 22. 16. Nor is it mercy to laſh out in prodigall ma…ner on riotous, …u…e perſons by ſe…ti…g open thy ſeller doores when the ne…dy hauehave leaſt ſhare, and ſharkers abuſe themſelues and thee and thy prouiſion. Nor is it mercy to giuegive to vagabonds that liue vp and downe and keepe not their place, walking inordinatly, againſt the lawes of God and the King vnleſſe it be to preſerue life in caſe of extremitie, and then with admonition or correction according to the power intruſted to vsus.
3 For the nature of the action: not the mercy of the cruell, as the mercy of the vſurer, who doth good deeds in lending, as the debtors call them, when he garbiges, and pluckes out the bowells of a mans eſtate; but true mercy which indeed releiues and comforts.
Secondly we muſt LoueLove mercy, it is not enough to acceptation with God, that thou doe mercy, which yet may releiue the diſtreſſed: but thou muſt louelove it, this louelove hath in it theſe things.
1 Cheerefulneſſe: hearty, anſwerable to our power and the opportunity of doing good, that it may come as a matter of bounty not of couetouſneſſe, 1 Tim 6. 18. 2 Cor. 9. 4. 5. 6. 7. Luk. 12. 33. Pro. 22. 13. 23.
2 Compaſſion, ſympathie, and fellowfeeling, wee ſhould hauehave in vsus bowells of mercy, Col. 3. 12. Iob. 30. 25, 1 Ioh. 3. 18. Rom. 12. 16. it may not be as a matter of vaine glory or of beholdingneſſe Pro. 22. 7.
3 Seruice and labour, Gal. 5. 13. Heb. 6. 10. 2 Cor. 8. 16. 22.
4 Liberality, a bountifull eye. Pro. 22. 9. Opening the hand wide Deut. 15 8. ſowing bountifully 2 Cor. 9 6. and 8 9. and at all ſeaſons, caſting our bread vponupon the waters, for after many dayes we ſhall find it, giuing to ſeuen and alſo to eight Eccleſ. 11. 2. 3. &c. Luk. 6. 8.
5 The inlarging our ſelues to the higheſt degree both for liberality and compaſſion, that we can poſſi…ly work our hearts vntounto, This is the powring out of the ſoule to the needy, Eſa. 58. 10.
6 Speedineſſe Pro. 3. 28. not hiding our ſelues from our own fleſh, Eſa. 58. 7.
7 Conſtancy in what wee purpoſed, willed, or prom…ſed.
8 Continuance, remembring the poore Heb. 13. 16.
9 The caſting out all wicked thoughts: not doing mercy with griefe of heart, Deut. 7. 7. 8. to 12.
Now becauſe our corruption of nature is ſuch that it maketh inſurrection againſt eueryevery good motion and breaketh forth to the defiling of eueryevery good action, we muſt in ſhewing mercy remember two rules more.
1 To ſhew mercy with repentance which may both breake vp the fallow ground of our hard hearts, that they may bee more fruitfull in this grace: and may alſo waſh away the pollution that cl…aueth to vsus, euen in our beſt deſire▪ to diſtribute and communicate.
2 To ſhew mercy with faith: both beleeuing Gods gracious acceptation, and the ſucceſſe and reward according to thoſe promiſes in Eccleſ. 11 1. 2 Cor. 9. 9. 10. Luk. 12. 33. Pro. 22. 21. Luk 11. 41. To them that giuegive almes in a true faith all things are cleane without any ceremony of waſhing, ſuch as the hypocriſie of the couetuous phariſes had invented for purification and clenſing of Gods creatures.