Who will not mercy unto others show,
How can he mercy ever hope to have?
God loves our mercy to one another; but not upon conditions at variance with sanctity to Him.
Kind hearts are here; yet would the tenderest one
Have limits to its mercy; God has none.
Mercy to him that shows it is the rule.
Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a sinner like mercy and love. Souls that converse much with sin and wrath, may be much terrified; but souls that converse much with grace and mercy, will be much humbled.
MERIT.
He who thinks to be justified by any strength or merit of his own, and not by faith, puts himself in the place of God.
Merit is a work for the sake of which Christ gives rewards. But no such work is to be found, for Christ gives by promise. Just as if a prince should say to me, "Come to me in my castle, and I will give you a hundred florins." I do a work, certainly, in going to the castle, but the gift is not given me as the reward of my work in going, but because the prince promised it to me.
