Jude 1:2 Mercy to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 1. Mercy can be attributed to God. (1) As it signifies a promptitude of the will to succour the miserable. (2) As it signifies God's actual helping and relieving us in our distresses. 2. God is merciful — (1) With a preventing mercy. (2) With a forgiving mercy. (3) With accepting mercy, taking in good part the desires of the soul when it finds not to perform. (4) With re-accepting mercy; looking upon a returning prodigal as a son; pitying as a father, not punishing as a judge. (5) With providing mercy (Psalm 23.). (6) With directing mercy in our doubts (Psalm 73:24). (7) With sustaining mercy (Psalm 94:18). (8) With quickening; enlivening mercy to any holy duty (Philippians 4:13). (9) With restoring mercy; and that not only from sin and miseries, but even by them. (10) With crowning mercy when He brings us to heaven. 3. The properties of God's mercy. (1) Full. (2) Free.Lessons: 1. How unbeseeming a sin is pride in any that live upon mercy! 2. The duty of contentment in our greatest wants or smallest receipts. 3. The impiety and folly of those that abuse mercy. 4. Great is the heinousness of sin, that can provoke a God of much mercy, to express much severity. 5. It should be our care to obtain the best and choicest of mercies. 6. How little should any that have this God of mercy for theirs, be dismayed with any misery! 7. It is our duty and dignity to imitate God in showing mercy. (W. Jenkyn, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. |
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