"Blessed are the merciful:for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7).

No word within the compass of our language has a sweeter sound than mercy; and no other word
could bring the character of God more fully before our minds. This leads to our deepest joy and
our richest blessing_dwelling on the character of God. He is the source of mercy_"the Father
of mercies." He is the well-spring of all the pity, compassion, tenderness, kindness, and charity,
whether temporal or spiritual, which flow through this world of misery. And this mercy, blessed
be His name, is from everlasting and to everlasting_without beginning, before time; and when
time is past, without end. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them
that fear him" (Psa. 103:17). But in the meantime, on this "narrow neck of land," this world of
sin, between the incomprehensible past and future, mercy flows as a mighty river, and unites, as
it were, the ocean of eternity. There is no interruption to His mercy:it is the active principle of
His being in this world of sin and misery. "For His mercy endureth for ever." Who can speak of
the transcendent blessedness of such a truth in such a scene of sorrow as this world is! But for the
ceaseless flow of His mercies, it could only be like that place where His mercies are clean gone,
and where He will be favorable no more for ever. When the ear of mercy is closed, and the arm
of mercy is withdrawn, nothing remains but the agonies of despair. But now He delights in mercy,
and will delight in it.

But let us ask the question, Is this rich, tender, everlasting mercy free to all who cry to God for
it? Most surely! Are none now who hear of His mercy excluded? Only those who exclude
themselves. The door of mercy now stands wide open, and the ear of mercy patiently waits to hear
the cry, and quicker far than the electric spark is heaven’s answer. Take a well-known example,
and remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for ever.

When the poor blind beggar (Luke 18) heard that short sermon, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by,"
he cried, saying, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" What was His answer? Could
He say, I have no mercy for thee? Impossible! that, would have been to deny the character of
God, and the whole truth of the Bible. The fulness of divine mercy was his from the moment of
his heart’s first utterance. The faithless multitude might rebuke the blind man and seek to drive
him back, but not Jesus. The moment the cry for mercy fell upon His ear, He stood still; and the
vast procession stood still. All must give place to this service of mercy. "And Jesus stood, and
commanded him to be brought unto Him; and when he was come near, He asked him, saying,
What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And
Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee." Surely this is mercy, full and
free; and such mercy is free to all, "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved." And these things are written, remember, that thou mayest believe. The same cry will
bring the same blessing today.

And here learn also, as a believer, how to show mercy, Give not your alms to the poor as you
would throw a bone to a dog. With what grace Jesus bends over the poor man and asks, as if He
were his servant, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" Far from taking a place of manifest
superiority, and causing the poor man to feel as if in a far distant place, He gave him to know and

feel that He was dealing with him in love and grace, and drew the heart of the helpless one
entirely to Himself. The Christian must not only be merciful_most merciful, always merciful_but
he must learn to show mercy after the manner of his Lord and Master. The way of the world is
to patronize, and to be esteemed as benefactors; and many will give for the sake of this honor. But
not so those on whom the Lord lays His hand and pronounces blessed. "Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy."

Learn, then, I pray thee, from this narrative, both the freeness and the style of divine mercy. He
who cries to God for mercy, though physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually poor and
blind_the weakest or most degraded of mankind_is instantly answered by Him "who is rich in
mercy." God never has said, and never will say to the cry of the dependent heart, I have no mercy
for thee. Hence the absolute certainty of God’s mercy to every one who feels his need, and looks
to Him to meet it. There is nothing either in the heart or in the circumstances of the sinner that
can hinder the flowing spring of mercy if he only bows at the feet of Jesus in dependence on Him.
But there is no possibility of salvation to a single soul save through the mercy of God in Christ
Jesus, His blessed Son.

May the Lord lead all who read this paper to abound more and more in this heavenly, this God-
like grace of mercy. In the exercise of mercy toward others, we will taste afresh the sweetness of
God’s mercy to, our own souls. A gracious eye, a tender heart, an open hand carry with them
their divine reward. Who does not abhor the character of the steward who was forgiven ten
thousand talents by his master, but would not forgive his fellow-servant a hundred pence? On the
other hand, who does not admire the mercy which shines in the good Samaritan who did the
neighbor’s part? This is the mercy of the gospel; seek especially to shine here_in the mercy that
would seek to save the lost sinner; but forget not the mercy that shines in words, looks, and deeds.
Mercy is the great need of mankind_sinners need it, saints need it, all need it. God in Christ Jesus
is its source. May we be the channels of its many streams, both to the bodies and to the souls of
men.