as contrary to the precept which our blessed Saviour gave his disciples in these words, Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Having given this general description of the character of the merciful, it will be useful to mention some particular instances in which this character is exhibited and displayed.

The first instance I shall mention, is-mercy to the poor.

There is no age or country in which the observation of our Lord is not verified-The poor ye have always with you. Some there will be whose poverty is unavoidable, although there may be others whose poverty is their fault; and herein the wise and prudent will make a right distinction. What our duty is (as Christians) to such persons, is easy to learn, if we pay due attention to the written word of God. He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.* And again: He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor.† The righteous considereth the cause of the poor, but the wicked regardeth not to know it.‡

As to the pious poor, they have a double claim to our assistance and relief, as poor and as religious; and it is directly contrary to the principles both of Piety and Benevolence to suffer any who fear God to want the common necessaries and comforts of life. For whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, + Prov. xiv. 31.

*Prov. xiv. 21.

Prov. xxix. 7.

and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? It is repugnant to all the principles of the Christian religion, as well as to all the sympathies of our common humanity, to see the poor starve and perish for want; and it is our duty, beyond all controversy and dispute, to do good unto all men, and especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The second instance of this merciful disposition, is the case of those who by some sudden affliction or disastrous calamity are reduced to poverty and distress.

Human life is full of uncertainty, and he who is rich and affluent to-day, may be poor and needy to-morrow. Our Saviour's parable of the Good Samaritan is very instructive on this subject, and clearly illustrates the character and conduct of the merciful man towards a fellow-creature in distress. It is expressly said, that the Good Samaritan had mercy on the unfortunate traveller who fell among thieves, was stripped and wounded, and left half-dead. How forcible and impressive is the conclusion drawn from this affecting and beautiful parable!-Go thou and do likewise. This short, but striking address, may serve instead of a thousand arguments; and is much better than a thousand arguments, or a multitude of words, to convince us of our duty to help those who stand in need of the same assistance and relief. Would we therefore know what is truly meant by being merciful, let this sentence be impressed on our minds, and have a due influence

on our conduct, so shall we best prove ourselves to be the true disciples of Jesus Christ.

What might we not hope from the practice of Christianity if such examples were more frequent and common among us! Were this practice to become general, and were we to endeavour by all the means in our power to alleviate each other's afflictions and distresses, as well as to relieve each other's wants, misery and wretchedness would be, comparatively speaking, the lot of few, and that to a much less extent than at present.

He will

The third instance of the character of the merciful to be now mentioned is, the condition of those who are afflicted with bodily sickness and suffering, or with any distress of mind. To such the merciful man will endeavour to administer comfort and relief suited to their several necessities and wants. He will pour the healing balm of pity and compassion on the afflicted body, and impart consolation to the distressed mind. study to remove, or at least to alleviate, the sufferings of the one, and the distresses of the other. He will take an interest in their concerns, both temporal and spiritual, and, in the true spirit of Christian sympathy, he will weep with those that weep,✶ and feel for them all that pity and compassion which their case may require. He will endeavour as much as possible to render their condition less grievous and less insupportable. While he bears their wants upon his heart before the throne

*Rom. xii. 15.

F

*

of divine mercy, he will not be backward to lend a helping hand himself to do them good. He will encourage the feeble-minded, and strengthen those who are weak in the faith. He will remember them that are in adversity, as being himself likewise in the body, and consequently liable to the same calamities; and he will exert himself to the utmost of his power to raise the penitent who have fallen into sin, and according to the advice of the Apostle, to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering himself, lest he also be tempted.+

Having now considered the character of the merciful at sufficient length, we proceed to consider,

II. Their blessedness.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Without expatiating at large on this point of doctrine, or extending our view of the subject to its farthest verge, I shall confine your attention to the single assertion and assurance in the text, they shall obtain the mercy of God. Our Lord taught his disciples to be merciful, as their Father in heaven is merciful; for this very reason, that with the merciful, he will shew himself merciful. God delights to behold his own image reflected in his rational and intelligent creatures. He delights in those who are like himself, and he delights also to show them mercy. We can hardly suppose any man to be so ignorant and insensible, as not to know that he stands in need of the mercy of God; for what † Gal. vi. 1.

*Heb. xiii. 3.

could the best and holiest of men do without the divine mercy?

Considered abstractedly from the mercy of God, as manifested to mankind through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are all in a lost condition, and condemned by the law and justice of God for our great and manifold sins. It is of his mercies that we are not consumed, and because his compassions fail not.* If he were to proceed against us according to the strictness of his law, and the severity of his justice, who would be able to stand before him at his tribunal ? But blessed be God; there is mercy with him that he may be feared,† and loved, and honoured, and obeyed. If, therefore, we humble ourselves before him, and seek his mercy through Christ, he has promised to have mercy upon us, to help, and to save us. He will pardon our sins through that all-sufficient sacrifice which Christ hath offered for the sins of the world, and he will accept and bless us. A sense of this mercy will fill our hearts and minds with all joy and peace in believing, and we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

The day of final retribution is a time when it will be absolutely necessary for all of us to cast ourselves upon the mercy of our Judge; and what reason have we to expect that we shall find mercy in that day ourselves, if we refuse to show mercy now to our fellow-creatures in distress? The Apostle James has assured us, that he shall have judgment without mercy who has shown + Psalms cxxx. 4.

*Lam. iii. 22.