is the divine mercy clothed in the form of divine truth: And, it is only by thus spiritually loving our enemies, even those who are in the very worst states, that we can be the children of our Father who is in heaven. We are also commanded to forgive a trespassing brother until seventy times seven; by which we understand that he is to be always and continually forgiven. However vile a fellow-creature may become, so long as he in any way within our reach, our thoughts, when directed towards him, ought to spring from a desire to perform some use to him, if possible; and our conduct towards him, ought to be a still more ultimate expression of the same charitable affection. Such is manifestly the law of heavenly charity. That charity is withdrawn from no one because his evil affections and life, have made him an inhabitant of hell. And as this law is divine in its origin, it points us with unerring certainty, to a God whose mercy and whose forgiveness are perpetual, infinite, eternal and universal. We can conceive of no greater absurdity than that of supposing, that while the law of heavenly love requires of us the permanent exercise of forgiveness and true charity, even towards those who are confirmed in evil, yet He, from whom that law emanates, regards the same poor creatures as the objects of His vindictive wrath. Most assuredly the divine law does not require men and angels to be better than the God who made them!
And yet, on the other hand, we read in the Divine Word that, "God is angry with the wicked every day," that "He reserveth wrath for his enemies." and many similar announcments. How shall these apparent contradictions be disposed of? The Divine word, which proceeds from Him who is one and unchangeable, can contain no real discrepances. There is an internal harmony in each and every part. But in the letter of the Word there are often apparent truths, adapted to the states of unregenerate men. The real truth they are not prepared to receive; and hence the Divine mercy permits the Word to be presented to them
