"Mercy coming to us in a covenant is sweetest. It was mercy that God would give Israel rain, and bread to the full, and peace, and victory over their enemies, (Lev 26:4-6)--but it was a greater mercy that God would be their God, (v. 12). To have health is a mercy, but to have Christ and salvation is a greater mercy. It is like the diamond in the ring, which casts a more sparkling lustre. . . .
"All the mercy in the creature is derived from God, and is but a drop of this ocean. The mercy and pity a mother has to her child is from God. God is called, 'The Father of mercies,' because He begets all the mercies in the world, (2 Cor 1:3). If God has put any kindness into the creature, how much kindness is in Him who is the Father of mercy!
"As God's mercy makes the saints happy, so it should make them humble. Mercy is not the fruit of our goodness, but the fruit of God's goodness. Mercy is an alms that God bestows. They have no cause to be proud that live upon the alms of God's mercy. 'If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head,' (Job 10:15): 'All my righteousness is the effect of God's mercy, therefore I will be humble and will not lift up my head.' "
