02.40 - Book 2, Chapter 40
Chapter XL. A Conversation Between Faith And The Mercy Of God.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.— Psalms 85:10. The goodness of God comes forth to meet us, and gives merciful answers to the prayers of faith;“for mercy shall compass us about.”Psalms 32:10. It calls to us:“Return, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.”Jeremiah 3:12-13. To which faith answers,“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”Psalms 51:1. Mercy calls,“Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”John 6:37. Faith answers,“Draw me; we will run after thee.”Song of Solomon 1:4. Mercy says,“The Lord hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn.”Isaiah 61:1-2. Faith answers out of Psalms 51:12:“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.”Mercy says, out of Isaiah 43:25 and Isaiah 44:22,“I have blotted out as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.”Faith answers out of Psalms 25:18,“Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.”Mercy comforts us and says, out of Psalms 103:13,“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”To which faith answers, out of Isaiah 64:8,“But now, O Lord, thou art our Father.”Mercy says,“Come unto me.”Matthew 11:28. Faith answers,“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”Psalms 25:1. Mercy says,“Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.”Jeremiah 3:1. Faith answers,“I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him: Father, I havesinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.”Luke 15:18-19. Mercy says,“This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”Luke 15:24. To which faith answers,“I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”Psalms 13:5. Mercy proclaims, out of Isaiah 55:1,“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”To which faith answers,“As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?”Psalms 42:1-2. Mercy says,“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”Psalms 103:3. Faith exclaims,“Enter not into judgment with thy servant.”Psalms 143:2. Mercy says,“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”John 14:6. Faith answers,“Shew me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me.”Psalms 25:4-5. Mercy promises,“I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14. Faith answers,“He that is our God, is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.”Psalms 68:20. Mercy says,“I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”John 11:25. To which faith answers,“I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25-26. Mercy says,“Fear thou not; behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 49:16.“Thou art mine; neither shall any man pluck thee out of my hand.”John 10:28. To which faith answers,“Into thine hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”Psalms 31:5.