The merciful.
Christian mercy
I. What is Christian mercy?
1. Its nature.
2. Its objects.
3. Its author.
4. Its design.
II. How is it exemplified?
1. In the forgiveness of enemies.
2. In various acts of kindness.
3. In deep concern and effort for the spread of the gospel.
III. What is the blessing which Christian mercy insures?
1. He will have mercy shown him from the subjects of his bounty.
2. A merciful Providence will attend the merciful Christian.
3. Mercy shall be shown him at the last day.
IV. A few observations to excite you to cherish a merciful disposition.
1. The more you abound in mercy, the more you are conformed to the precepts of the Scriptures.
2. The more you abound in mercy, the more will you resemble God.
3. The more we abound in mercy, the more eminently we appear to possess the spirit of Christ. (J. Jordan.)
The blessing of mercifulness
I. What is the character of this mercifulness? It is a quality exercised between man and man independent of written law, and which is not so much certain acts of forgiveness as a temper of the soul. It is a temper which makes him who has it not so much sorry that he has been injured, but sorry that the injurer should have the heart to do the wrong. All memory of wrong fades from him.
II. The reward. Christ did not mean a man to be merciful for the sake of obtaining mercy, but as a necessary result he would obtain it. Mercy is the reward of mercy. (S. A. Brooke.)
The sin of cruelty to animals
1. It is inconsistent with any just idea of the place assigned to man upon earth, and of the power granted to him over the other creatures, who occupy the same scene with himself.
2. It is out of harmony with the feelings and graces of character which ought to belong to all who profess the Christian faith.
3. It has a manifest tendency to pervert the entire moral nature of him who indulges it.
4. It is seen to be odious when we consider that the creatures against whom it is directed are those to whom man is most indebted for valuable service. (A. Goldie.)
I. What is implied in being merciful, and to whom does this character properly belong?
II. What is the blessedness promised?
III. The obligation we are under to be merciful. (Joseph Benson.)
The very first grace that grows, like a beautiful spring flower, on the ground of righteousness, is the grace of mercy, or compassion.
I. What is mercy, or compassion? It is sorrow at the suffering of a fellow-creature, rational or irrational, and, along with that sorrow, an earnest desire, if possible, to relieve it. It does not ask the question, “Is the sufferer of my nation, sect, party, or Church; does the man deserve relief?” It simply asks the question, “Does he suffer?” We are to go farther and to pity the sufferer as a sinner, and to show mercy to him simply because he is a sinner. This mercy is frequently enjoined in Holy Scripture, and always represented as the characteristic of the loftiest nature. This grace is obligatory upon all. In eider to exercise it, let us think of the mercy we have received.
II. The benediction pronounced upon it. Conscious joy. Special benedictions (Isaiah 58:6). Blessed because they are Godlike. “They shall obtain mercy”-from others in this world, and from God, even in this world, and at “ that day.” (Dr. J. Cumming.)
Let me exhort you to deeds of mercy, let your fingers drop with the myrrh of liberality, sow your golden seed, and ye shall reap an abundant harvest.
I. In Christ: labour that your persons may be in Christ.
1. The best works not springing from faith are lost.
2. That fruit is most sweet and genuine which is brought forth in the Vine (John 15:14).
3. Out of Christ all our alms-deeds are but the fruit of the wild olive; they are not good works, but dead works.
II. For Christ: for His sake, that you may testify your love to Him. Love mellows and ripens our alms-deeds, it makes them a precious perfume to God.
III. All works of mercy are to be done in humility. As the silkworm, while she weaves her curious works hides herself within the silk, and is not seen, so we should hide ourselves from pride and vainglory. (Thomas Watson.)
I. Are we wanting in this grace of mercy? Let us compare ourselves with God. God’s mercy is changeless, ours is fitful. God’s mercy is provident and thoughtful, ours capricious and thoughtless.
II. How may we hope to have this mercy supplied to us? In the redemption of the fallen world by the Son of God. This thoughtful, universal, and provident mercy is unblurred by single line.
III. Are we merciful in judgment of others? In our speech? Do we not take pleasure in sharp criticism? Are we merciful in consideration for others? Are we merciful employers? (Dr. Chalmers Smith.)
The exercise of mercy chiefly consists of two things.
I. To prevent any evil or mischief which we apprehend our neighbour to be in.
(1) By abstaining from all acts of cruelty or unmercifulness towards anybody or creature;
(2) By using our dominion or authority over others with tenderness and moderation;
(3) By considering our neighbour’s case as our own.
II. To endeavour to deliver others from difficulties, or at least to ease others of their burdens.
(1) By warning our neighbour;
(2) By friendly admonition. Thus preventing our neighbour falling into evil or mischief;
(3) To comfort others in sickness, sorrow, reproach, or disgrace;
(4) To disperse slanders and aspersions;
(5) To help the needy, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and take care of the poor. (Bishop Ofspring Blackall, D. D.)
Mercifulness a quality of the entire
man.
Mercifulness, then, is a quality of the whole nature; a certain soft, sweet, tender, gentle, gracious atmosphere in which the whole man lives and breathes; in which he continually acts toward injury and wrong; and under its warm and sunny rays injury and wrong melt away day by day, like icebergs that come floating down into the tropical stream. And those are blest who have it. They live in soft sunshine of their own making, and in it all the simple charities of life, which are like the common flowers that adorn and make sweet the woods and fields, flourish until the whole world rejoices in the life of those who live by mercy. And their speech is delightful as the songs of birds, and their daily acts like the soft murmur of such streams as gently flow through meadows. In all this inward beauty of soul they are blest indeed, for mercy blesses him who gives it. (S. A. Brooke.)