The Plain Mans Spiritual Plow, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The generall ſignification of the word Mercy.
AS the word Iuſtice or Righteouſneſſe before mentioned (as ſo placed alone) hath a very large ſignification, comprehending (as in one word) the ſumme and habite of all vertues, and ſo the whole dutie of a man: euen ſo, this Word Cheſed or Mercy (in the like ſort accepted) is extended to the ſame; but yet ſo, as that therein Iuſtice is declared and perfected. For Mercy, The mercy of God.as it is applied to the Lord, ſignifieth not onelyonly his free remiſſion and pardon of our ſinnes (as it is before ſaide) but alſo all thoſe good motions, waies, bleſſings, graces, and meanes which hee beſtoweth, vſeth and applieth to the calling home, redemption, and preſeruation of them whom in his eternall louelove hee hath elected and predeſtinated to life in his ſonne Ieſus. Thereof the Lord ſaith (by the Prophet Ieremy) I hauehave loued thee with an euerlaſting louelove: therefore in Mercy hauehave I drawne thee: Ier. 31.3.yea, vnderunder this word (and that moſt cōmonly) in the holy Scriptures, are ſignified all and ſingular thoſe graces, bounties, benefits, bleſſings, and whatſoeuer good things the Lord our God of his meere louelove, fauour and good wil, powreth forth and beſtoweth on men, being indeed the effect and fruite of his diuine and eternall louelove to his Saints in Chriſt. This word therefore vſed the holy Patriarch, Iacob, when returning from Meſopotamia, and conſidering how rich and bountifull the Lord his God had bene vntounto him in louelove, graces, and manifold benefits, far beyond all his deſerts or worthines, he confeſſed and ſaide: Catóntimickol hachaſadim: Gen. 32.10 and 33.11that is: I am farre vnworthy all thoſe Mercies. This king Dauid very often acknowledged vnderunder the ſame word Cheſed. Of ſuch a force is it, as it is iuſtly applied vntounto our good God, whoſe mercy is ſaid to comprehend all his workes.
In like manner, the ſame being applied to man,The mercy of man. and eſpecially to that duty which is required of man towards man, ſignifieth not onelyonly thoſe particular Species or kinds of Iuſtice, as humanitie, benignitie, beneuolence, kindneſſe, gratitude: or that Sogyn or affection of louelove, or that worke of mercy, which wee call almes-deeds, or pardon of treſpaſſes, or ſuch like (before mentioned) as in any part or member therof: but all and eueryevery thoſe louing affections, godly wordes, holy actions, good deedes, and commendable things whatſoeuer to the which a true Chriſtian is worthily inuited, perſwaded, and directed within that louelove of his neighbours, contained and commaunded in the ſecond Table of the diuine Lawe, and confirmed both by the Doctrine and example of our Lord Chriſt, as that whereby true louelove & charitie is expreſſed, performed, & perfected with effect. The holy Pſalmiſt ſpeaking of the righteous man,Pſal 37.21 ſaith; The Righteous is Mercifull: as if this were the fruite which ſo good a tree yeelded, he is Righteous, Ergo, he is mercifull, or he is vnmercifull: for he is righteous. Therefore is the word taken for the very definition of Iuſtice,Megaudes in. 2. Tim. 2 Caiu. in Hoſ. 12. becauſe that therein onelyonly, that generall vertue ſo often commanded and commended in the holy Scriptures, is apparantly expreſſed and perfected, as the cauſe by his effects. The Apoſtles hauehave commonly for this word, vſed Agape, LoueLove, or Charitie, comprehending all the fruites of faith, and mans whole dutie: againſt the which is oppoſed a word which ſignifieth diſtraction, cruelie, vncharitableneſſe, vnmercifulneſſe, oppreſſion, ſpoyling, and the effects of malice. As it is ſaide of the olde world; the earth was filled with crueltie. Gen. 6. Pro 22. Pſal. 50. Mercy & perfection. Mat. 5 48 Luk. 6.36.The vngodly are cruell, and pertakers with theeues, robbers, or oppreſſors. Finally, wee may obſerue that in the Sermon of Chriſt: Saint Luke calleth that Perfection, which Saint Luke calleth Mercy: yee ſhall therefore bee perfect, as your father in heauen is perfect. Be yee therefore mercifull, as your father alſo is merciful. By the which as he meaneth one thing, ſo hee would that men, (vnderunder this word Mercy,) ſhould bee perfect in all goodneſſe, though not in meaſure or quantitie, yet of nature and qualitie, like vntounto God our heauenly father. And to this are we inuited by the Prophet Hoſey, Hoſ. 10 12when he ſaith, Reape ye according to the meaſure of mercy. And by the Lord Ieſus, citing the Prophets words; I wil hauehave mercy, & not ſacrifice: which is, as if he ſaid:Mat. 9.13 and 12.7. All your ſacrifices and oblations nothing pleaſe me, whiles I finde you to bee cruell, vncharitable, and vnmercifull one towards another: yea whiles I finde no goodneſſe nor perfection in you, conformable to the image of God. But on the other ſide: If yee doe iuſtly, louelove mercy, humble your ſelues, and walke with God:Mich. 6.8 as Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and others, the godly and faithfull in their times hauehave done: then will I accept your Sacrifices, not onelyonly with your Mercy, but in regard thereof, as the right effect of ſo good a cauſe.
And ſo much touching thoſe two vertues: Iuſtice and Mercy, as either of the wordes are abſolutely placed, and ſo commonly accepted in the holy Scriptures.