"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, (verse 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.
"One act of mercy engages God to another. Men argue thus, 'I have shown you kindness already, therefore trouble me no more'; but, because God has shown mercy, He is more ready still to show mercy. His mercy in election makes Him justify, adopt, glorify; one act of mercy engages God to more. A parent's love to his child makes him always giving.
"All the mercy in the creature is derived from God, and is but a drop of this ocean. 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."
