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z. In the Unworthiness of those for whom he died, Rom. v. 8.

3. In the Greatnefs of the Benefits we receive from it, Tit. iii, 4, 5, 6.

Queft. 4. Doth God love all Men alike? 1. No. He loveth wicked Men only with a general Love. As they are his Creatures, he takes Care of them in this World; but as wicked, he hateth them,Pfal. v. 5. Hof. ix. 15. 2. Those who are truly Pious, he loveth with a fpecial Love, Prov. viii. 17. Pfal. ciii. 11, 12, 13.

Queft. 5. What Ufe are we to make of this? 1. Seeing God is Love, we ought to love him above all Things, Deut. vi. 5.

2. We should imitate him, Matt. v. 48. 1. In loving our Enemies, Matt. v. 45. 2. In loving all our Brethren, and one another, 1 Job. iv. 11, 20.

3. In having a greater Love for those who are Holy than for others, Gal. vi. 10. 3. Hence we fhould put our whole Truft and Confidence in God for our Salvation: He having loved us while Enemies, how much more if we love him, Rom. v. 10.

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The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.

Merciful.

יהיה יהוה אל רחום וחנון

Queft. 1. What is the Mercy of God?

It is that Perfection whereby he is always ready to affift his Creatures in Mifery, Lamentations iii. 22.

Diftinguitur Mifericordia ab Amore; quia Amor fertur in Bonum quatenus Bonum, Mifericordia in Bonum quatenus miferum, five cum Miferiâ conjun&tum. This his Mercy is like his other Perfections, exceeding great and infinite, Pfal. ciii. 8, 9, 10. Numb. xiv. 18. Pfal. cxlv. 8. Pfal. Ivii. 10. Ephefians ii. 4.

He is the Fountain and Father of Mercy, ź Cor. i. 3.

Queft. 2. To whom is God merciful?

i. To Mankind in general, Pfal. cxlv. 9.
1. In granting them Life and Continuance
upon Earth, notwithstanding their Sins,
Lam. iii. 39. Pfal. lxxxvi. 13.

2. In delivering them out of their Troubles
in Diftreffes, Pfal. cvii. 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14.
3. In eafing them of their Pains, curing
their Diftempers, and granting them
Health and Strength of Body, Pfal. ciii. 1,
2,3,4

G&

4. In

4. In giving us all Things neceffary for Life
and Godliness, Matt. v. 45. Pfal. cxlvii. 8.
Pfal. cxlvi. 7, 8, 9: Pfal. cxxxvi, 23, 24,
25, 26.
s. In fending his Son to be our Saviour,
John iii. 16. Tit. iii. 4, 5. Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

2. He is in a fpecial Manner merciful to those that love and fear him, Pfal. ciii. 11, 12, 13. Neb. i. 5. Luke i. 50.

1. In pardoning their Sins, Pfal. Ixxxvi.
Heb. viii. 12. Luke i. 77, 78.

2. In mortifying their Lufts, and quickening
them to Newnefs of Life, Eph. ii. 4, 5.
3. In affifting them in the Performance of
all their Duties, and the Exercise of all
true Grace and Virtue, 1 Cor. vii. 25.
2 Cor. iv. I.

4. In fupporting them under all their Trou
bles, Pfal. xciv. 17, 18, 19. And bleffing
and fanctifying them to them, Heb. xii. 10,
11. Pfal. cxix. 67, 71.

5. In bringing them at laft to Heaven, Tit. iii. 96; 7.

Queft. 3. What Uses are we to make of God's Mercy?

1. We must not abufe it to Licentiousness.

2. We should imitate him, in being merciful to one another, Luke vi. 36.

1. Pardoning others Injuries.
2. Pitying their Miferies.

3. Relieving their Neceffities.

3. We must attribute all the good Things we have to the Mercy of God.

4. It should teach us to love, fear, and praise

him.

1. To love him, Pfal. cxvi. i. Luke vii. 47. 2. To fear him, Pfal. cxxx. 4.

3. To praife him, Pfal. Ixxxvi. 12. Pfal. ciii. 2, 3, 4. Pfal. cxxxvi. 1, 2, 3, &c.

5. We must truft and hope on his Mercy, Pfal. xxxiii. 18. Pfal. lii. 8. Pfal. cxlvii. 11. And that presently.

Confider,

1. God's Mercies are much greater than our Miferies.

2. They are fealed to us by the Blood of Chrift.

3. Hoping and trufting in his Mercy, is the principal Way whereby to obtain it.

4. His Mercy is only for this Life, John ix. 4. Heb. ix. 27. 2 Cor. v. 10,

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1. Because he is lovely and amiable in himfelf, Jobn i. 14. Luke iv. 22. Col. ii. 9. All rational Creatures do therefore defire him. 2. Because he is favourable to his Creatures beyond their Deferts, Rom. xi. 6.

Queft. 2. Wherein doth God fhew bimfelf thus gracious to Mankind?

In our Salvation, which wholly and folely proceeds from, and is grounded upon, his Grace, as the fole Beginner, Carrier on, and Perfecter of it; Tit. ii. 11. Eph. ii. 5, 8.

It is of his Grace only,

1. That he fent his Son to be our Saviour, John iii. 16. Rom. v. 8.

2. That he fent his Apoftles to preach the Gofpel, Gal. i. 15, 16. Eph. iij. 8, 9.

3. That he hath called us to the Knowledge of his Gofpel, 2 Tim. i. 9.

4. That he enables us to do any Thing that is truly good, Phil. ii. 13. Rom. xii. 6. As xviii. 27. Eph. ii. 8.

5. That we are kept from Sin, and from being overcome by Temptations, 2 Cor. xii. 9.

6. That

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