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Page033

THE


...


PRA_, CTICAL' CII'RIS'TIA'N.


DCl'otcd to T. outla and Uightco'pnies8o


VOL. I. '


THE PRAOTICAL CHRISTIAN


I~ published twice every calendar mouth- at


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- no credit beyond No, 2 of each volume. Per­sons


responsible for six copies receive the seventh


Irati.. No subscription received fur less than one


year.


Ilegular Contr ibutor. to the \ Vork.- ADIN


BALLOU, ( Ed itor and Publishing Agent ;) DAV' D


R. LAM. ON. GEORG E ' V . STA CY, n ,~ NI ' EL S.


' VllIT :..: r. \ r. LLI AlIl II. FI SH, SAM UEL J.


MAY.


All letters, ' remittances and communications to


be sent (~ O ' l paid) to Adin B allou, ,41,"< 1011, , llass "


: eXPOSITION 01" FAITH.


C H AI' T E H II .


8 f: c' 1' IU." i 2,


God i~ infinite ill power, wisdom nlldl! 0o, IrI t'~ H.


v Ills a- I'tatll r. ssr is uusearchublr," Psul. H 5: a,


"


[ C o n cl u d ed.]


a, God is infillite , in goo d lless . ! lis goo d­IICPS


cOllsists in hene\' lIlenee lIIlel h,! lill ess. Il e- '


nevIII,' nl'" is litlirlllly g ood Il'ill, , It . Ilnlli- tesl "


ilsfJlf ill ' love, henefi c elH~ e , kind lll: ss , g rnc inns ­ilt'SS,


Ility, bOllllm ssi oll , 1lll; I'CY. H" lin e~ s / l 11I1I­j


l e~ ls its t'lfin purity , SiUI · .,.- ilY, H rue ily . tilld ­itf,


j, / s li" e, " q " ity , righteo, tlsllt8s . The Il''' otl­nt'


ss o( God is pe rl cl: f, 1111 iVt'r "' l1I lIull illilll illl­ble.


li e is' lnorally illl'apai, l" o f II,,~ sli g lrl" st ·


tinctu re of 1lI11IevolclI l:_ of ", ill. Ifi ~ illfiliit,, ·


~ l) od ll fJSS is Illllght th roll :,!!"". t lilt' S , · ,: jl'l'lr.."


ira p ft ; ot"' a~ (" s ur whi ch th e tj . ! l o w i it ~ tll o,). s(~ l' vu


& 1" " ~: l( l l jli e :


" Alld th e 1.0", 1 p",< s.. e1 hy l"' for e hi ,," : " nd


I'rnellIilned, ' I'h" Lord, II... I.,, · rel God , 1/ Il: I'l: i ·


tllllll"{ graf' i( lll~. lOll:': Hllfr.: r iu :!. all d 1I111111 t1all t


in ~ Of ! tIli e SS lind Il'llth; lte r: pilll! 11Il~ r1' Y li, r


IllIluslInlls. fiJr;! ivill g iniquity 111,, 1 tl'lln !' g re~ si lln


~ 1I" f Hill, 1t1,, 1 Ih nt will hy lin IIle: IIIS C lf~ ll r th e . '. I/ Ilihy ." Elt. : 34: 6, 7. " As l: rihe y e grellln ess


' UlllU our Lort!. He is the ru ck , his work ' is


1lf'I'fi,,: r: for " II hi s WIIj'S llre j llllgmell t : n God


ol~ tr IllIa IIwl wjtbo tl t illiqllity - just allrl right


ill h" ," De;' t . 32: 3,4. " There is nUlIe holy li S


th e LOI'II." 1 SlIm. 2: 2. " He shall j lldge II, e


,," orl. 1 ill ri :,: hICllUSIWSS, he shnll millist er jndg ~


1I1l1nt III th e pellple ill uprightlle~ s. T he Lord


- Ills" will he a reluge fOI' the op1' ressed " a rf' t~


lIge ill ' Ii. lies of Irouhle." PSIII. 9: 8, 9. " For


Ih ~ righteous 1.01' 11 lov eth righleousn ess. Ib


J I: 7. " He IO\' eth righteousn ess nnri jli"~ ­l/


IU1it : , the enrth is filII of IfIe Ir00llrwss of th e


Lord." Ih. 33: 5. ! ' T hy r llercy, O Lo rel, ill in


lit e heaveus, / tnd thy fi, itlIliJllICSIl rClldlelh 1111­to


thi, Idowls. Thy righhlousncss is lik e lhe


~ r<' ilt / IIr" untllins; Ihy jll " g lllenl~ ure II grell


fleep. 0 Lorrl, thou pres erveslllllllllIlll! heas t.


lJow exee / le llt ill ihy loving . k indlless. 0 God


th erefo re th e ehildrcn of men pill Iheir tru s t.


under' , th e s lllllio w of th y wings. They ~ h / lll


he IIh ~ illlll iJlly ~ lI t is fie d wiiil tlte' fUlllfJSS oflhy


hOllse; IIlld tltoll 8ltlilt Illllke Ihem drink of th e


r iver 1; 1' Ilty plmlslIl'cs," I h. 36: 5- 8. HJustil'p,


.. udjudg llwllt'II'e lhe Imhillllion of thy throlle


- lIIen: y nnd trllih shllil go h, d"' re Ihy fi'r. e."


lit. 8[}: 14. " Wilh rigltteollsn ess shnil h ejlld~ e


lite worlfl, an" Ihe p"! J!, le Wilh eq lli ly ." , lit .


98: 9. " F or the 1.01''' is good , Itis lIIercy is


, e\' crhtstinl!; nnrl his trutft ellliu rei h 10 nil gell- .


c rnlions ." Ih. 100: 5. " The Lor" is mercifi/ l


Bnll grnei ou s; ' s lolv to angel' 111111 plel iteons in


mercy. He will not al\\ ny I~ hide' ; neith er


will he keep his linger fill'e\' er." Ih. 10: 1: 8, 9.


" But tholl nrt holy, 0 thou IllIIt illhnbirest the


praises of Isruel.'? / b. fJ2: 3. " The 1.01'; 1 is


grnciollll allli full of cO/ llpnssion; .. .. Ihe


WOJ'~ 8 of Ilis Imnds nre \' crity and jndgment:


1111 his conllnnndments are sure: th ey stand


fltst forever lin" ev e,', and are dontl in trulh


ant! ullrigh'tness ; .. • holy ~ n. ll'everenrl is It iH


n8l11e." lb. 11/: 4 * 7, 8, 9. All men " s hull


ahum/ lIntly utler th e memory , of th y great


goodness, aud s ha ll siug of r. hy righleousness,


' fhe Lord is gracious lIud / illl of eOlllpassion ;


slow 10 angel' III II I of gre a t me re y. The Lonl


is ' good unto all, lIud his te/ Ill er mer cies lire


ov er all works. .... The Lord is , r igh leous


in lIlI his wny ", alllilioly ill 1111 h is w orl~ s. " Jh ,


145: 7 -~, " 17. ' " Alld nile criCll llll t}!' uuolh­e


l' , lIud suid , Holy , ho ly, ho ly is the , Lon l of


ilOsts." Isu. G: 3. " Thus fluilll ' the IIigl~ : mtl


Lotiy Olle tha t ilihohilllth Etel'llity, whose UllllIe


i s holy ; J dWI; 1I in the '; igh aud holy pllll'e,


MENDON, MASS., SEPTEMBER 1, 1840.


with him al so that is ofa contrite and humble men put their trust under the shadow of thy


spirit, to revive the spirit of the bumhle, und wings." Graciousness is hen ~ vol~ nee still


to revive the henrt of the contrite ones' for / seeking the good of the guilty- of those who


will 1I0t co ntend ftIre ver ; neither will I ' b~ ul- des erve, aceordlng to IIIW, nothing but nbau­wuys


wroth ; for th e spiril should fitil before donment 00.1' death. It is forbearnnce, long


rue / lud ' the so u ls which J have made." II>. 57: snffen ng. pa ins- tuk ing to save, forgiveness tow­15:


lfi, " F ol' Ih fJ Lord ~ vi ll not cust off for urd s inners, God is very gracious to the guil­eve


r : hut lhough he cause grief, yet will he ty. , All men have s inned, all were lost ; hut


hav e curupassiori lIccOI'tling 10 the multitude 1~ I'nce hath IthfJunticII illore than sin . · It hath


of his me rci es e for he d oth not nfflic t williu/ r - hro ught sa lva tio n to a ll men. \ Vi/ hout it all


Iy 1101' I; l'i('\' e, Ih l! childre n of men ." L IIIlI. 3: 32, 1I111st hnve utterly perish ed. Pity is henevo­"


But I say unto }' OIl, 10v I' your e nemies, bless leuce iuroresting itself to relieve the' miserable.


th em rluu curse YOII, d tl good to th en, that Compassion is ben evolence syuipllthiziug with


hnt e yo u, lind pra y - for Iflf~ lI i wh i" h d" spi lc: fill. tlIll wret ched, ~ eekilJg III participate ill th eir


Iy u s ,~ Y'OIl IItlll persecute vou : that ve IU: . \' he ~ or I' O W S, lind to all eviate th em. . lfercy is lie ­Ih


ll l' hil ill'e ll o f YOIII' Fltth ~ r whi ch i:~ ill h ~ a v- ue vo lence pitying th e gllilty, lind seek iug to


ell: 101' htl nmke rh hi s sun to r i" , 011 th e evil a~ c l'l from th em th e s te rn senten ce of the law


and 011 the goo d, alld se ude rh ra in 011 th ejus t hy II PllrI! OlI.' GtI, 1 is full of'piry 1II', d co mpas­111111


oil th e unjust .' ,' 11l1t: 5: 44, 4;' , . " God ! III s io u, ve ry merciful IIl1d gracious vto his IIn­.


lo ved lh e world that he ga\' l' his I> l riy h c ~ o ll ell wort hy c re utures ; Il. r lori\' illg and Havillg, co rn­SOli,


rhat whosoev er beli eveth ill hi" , s h" ,, ' 11 not UIise rllli ug nrnl relllr'l'illg th em, lin willing tlmt


per isl l, hilt Im\' e e \' '' r lllsiing life , " J ollII: 3: 16. lIuy s ltlJll'ld pel'i" h , hUI that 1111 ! hllulri'collle 10


"' God COllll llt'I11 le ll1 Ilis 10\'" t Il WII I'd ll~ , iu d, al. I,,, p t: ulall <: e. " Lik e, liS a tilthe r pitieth his


\\. h ile We WPI''' ye t s inn pl's Chr i ~ l , lie d for II:'." I: h ildl'e u, so he piti l'lh Ihew thut c ry unto h im


/ 1I1UI . 5: 8. " H ll " i l/ ~ IImd e k; IIl\\' u 111110 liS Ih e , iu tlte ir angllish. lIis compassiolls fi, i! not ;


' " Y~ l el'Y ' of hi s will, llcr: o rd illg 10 hi s gllo d 1\ 1111 hi ll mercy e rlllll rlJth forever." All Ihe~ e


pl' -; lSI/ I'I:, \ V, hich he hlllh purpos ed ill h im s ldf: lire variou s Illalli fi~! llll li lln s of on e gre l\ t Sell ' !'


, hilt ill ti le d is pc llsa lio ll oft lte ( 1Ilncss " f li rn" s 1111' 1/ 1 , II F. NEVOLJo: NO : . "


1111' rni;. d Il ;! lIlltCI' lllltelh er ill ''' IP. / Ill , thillgs ill Now of h o ~ illfJss . Pllrity is 11Illin esIl alll", r-


, C iI r i~ t . b" tlt wh ic h lIre ill hellve/ l lind wh ich ring', ex d ud illg 1111111 , shu / lning all " or ru pt


lire Oil cfu'IIt : , e ve / l in hill'. " 1':. I, h" s,) : 7, 8,- 11J( JII:.: h l ~, desires , motives, i/ lt elllions a'lIl1le ­"


Il .., : 11/ 11 1" \' I: th 11M, kn owI, tl', n" t ' G" fl ;' fi'r ri'" I~ . It is It oliri essd eli ~ lllillg in II wholly-


Go rl is love . JII thi s wus / Iluuitc s tetlth e lov ~ rig ht hellrt- freeilolll frol/ l 1111 s i/ lful elllotions


o( God IO\ l" Il1' l I Il R, Im,," us!: t ltat ' G" rI St' llt hi s - pe rti, c t reetillIde of Ilcsire lind plll'pose- lln


o ul.\' h" g" ltcn S o n illln lhe world thnl we , 1I pr ii: h l will. Out of th e heart proceerls IIII


rlli ~ I JI live I It ~ nll gh hin ., II tJrpin'i s lo\' c, not 111,01' 11 1 l;" od IIIllJ, evi!. I flhe fOll'lIl1in is pllre,


t" al we luverl G,. I , I JlIt Ihm he lov ed 1I ~, 1l1I11 1,111, SlnJllIII will he ~ o . / fthtl , fi. llllllllin btl illl-


SI: Ill hiRSOlI tu hlt Ihe pl'lIpi lialion fiJI' 011 1' sins." 1''' 1' 1:, lllimed, corrllp', s ll~ h will be tlto issll e.


I John, 4: 8- 10. " Grellt and 1I1/ 11'\ ' ellollS or" Rill Go~ 1 is perfeclly, , infinite ly pilr c in heal: t.


thy works, L ord God Almigllty : just au. 1 tru " ' He neithel' llilll\ Jleth, nor CIIII be templed with


ar e Ihy WllyS, lh oll King of SlIints. \ Vho sh,, 11 C\' iI. Sincerity is holin ltss abhorrilI ~ and ex­lint


felIr Ihee, 0 Lorrl, nnd glorify .!! IY.,! I. 1! JlJe ? f~ J.! , ~. in~ a ll_ f ~ c e e i t, J. Iy' p! JE: it', Y , rlj~,~ j.! lInlat! Q. ll '


1"" 1' th ollonly Jlrt " oIY; IiII' 1111 Jl/ ltillns s h,, 11 d lli ll i r~ ity- " n d d ~ li g'lolin g in honesty, s implill-cOllie


IInri wor sh ip hd i ' re thee j for Ihy jutlg- il)', fI'll n lw ess , e" I " l o r, i ng e n llo ll ~ ness lind 1I'I'Ih7


lIIents lire IIIl1de 1ll1withl." Rev. J5: 3 , ' 4. fi. lness,- ill lln exte rnn l seellIiul,: which e/ ll ire -


S~ Il: h is Ihe iufiuite goodlless, of G od. It is II Iy IIgrees with th tl iUlel'll/ l1 rl'lIlity . Veracity


pllrf', perlel~ t, Ilnil'e rsal , inlpal'l inl, \ Il1 ch an~ e- is c lns." y IIl1i erl 10 ~ i l ll: e r i l)' . It i_ " olinl's nb-


,,' h ll:, " Ie I'll/ d . illin, ilIllo le / tOO" IIl'SS. i III; ve hOlTillg' n," 1 exdtlltillg ~\ 1 fials~ h ( Jod , nil fnlllll ,


Hll ifi Ih llt this I! IJIII11IP. SS t: OIl ~ is ls ill he lle vn lrJllC:" nll . I)' ill l; testimony, 811 Illisrepres el'Untion of


nllll, ho litlf: ss, Benevolell" e is Ihat di\' irle sen - li, c l"':" nllll Ile lighting ill th e Herlll'nl,,"!! 1I11er­ti


, llcnt w hir'h e ' e rrwlly fl" lig hts . ! IJ hl ess, to n" C: l~ of Irllth- Ihe decl nring alld ~ Im i n g ftJrth


iJIIl'lll" t good . 1I0lin es~ is Ihat eqllolly Ili\' iue Ilothill!! hilt wlolIt IIIny he \' crifiell ill til e reAli­~


e l, l il lle n t which d el ights ill Ri g ht, in nIl) l'al ' yo Pidelit! 1 is nlsll of tim sIt", e ge nlls , It is


n : r · tiUII1" . Till'S while G od 1II,\\' aj'~ d eligh ls ro hnlille~ s uhhoJ'l'inl; IIlld " x d lI di lI~ nil tn: nch­hless,


to illJl'illl't gnlld ' I; 1 his e l'eallIrlls , 11l~ a l: ' lry, ull hr eaeh ofnhli gntillll , ~ \ 1 f: l ithl es,", lless­wllys


dcl ii: lols to do this ill sud , n ImUlller "'" 10 IIlld delight ing ill tiro filith ful, I~ on ' t lllll , nn rl


prtlu. ole Ri ght, to 11I lvlllu: e IIlld cSlahl ish holi- ' ;~ n lll p l e t t~ fnl fi! Inf; utofull promises 1111 .1 ohligll­ness


ill allllloml ag,," l s. And he IItJ\' flr exe r- ti nn ~, IIc l'~ rd illg ' lO lloeir true Rl'iri t. God is


cis!' s IWllc\' olen ce to ' lhe snhversiolf of ho lilless, pe rfl: l't ly / lnll illllnittdr sin ce re, truth Iii!, nnd


11 01' JII a i" ', tins holincss In Ihe s nhve rs ion of fililhli ri Inwa rd 1111 his c rein u res. Thm'efilrc Ire


hen t'v nlelll' C. He nev er illlparts gn orl reg/ l nl- fi> rhi. ls 1I11e11'; lIIish l'~ in his ' lI1oral s uhjec ts 11 11


less of R il! ht, nlld ne\' el ' promot es Riglot re - th ul is co ntrllr}' 10, th ese pecnliarities of his


gllrdl cRs of his crclllllres' welthr.,. Rell evo. nWII hol illess. Justice is holincss - Ilbhorring


Imll: c lind ho liu i · ss lire th er efill'c flln llaJll cntlll nlltmnsgre~" inn of Ihe moral 11IW, aull fIe:


eo - sentirTlents nflhe Dllit)" l'uhsi" tillg togelher , illlllliing ils sl ricI l; nti. lrcemellt- ius is tinl{ on


in I' llrl'etlllri l'llrmoll y. nnd eqnlllly n ecessnry lh e lII11inlenllnce of ils nlIimpllir ed alllfw,' i ly


10 , thll perf"': liplI lind infinity of his ~ ( Jod ness. ov er nil its sllhjec tq , Wilholll ~ espel: l ofpenIOns.


B. m evolen'ce, I hn ve slli. l; Illanircst~ i ts~ tf in E'lILity is holiness al'h orring nil ineqnaliry IInll


love, beneficen ce, Idlllllle~ s, gral: innsn e~ s, pi ~ r. Jlurlilllity Oflrllllllllent tuwlIl'ds erealllrcs of th e


, compass ion , mercy; alld holiness in pnrily" sam e nlltnre, in th e SlIlIIe ci rcn llls lllnce s- and


s inee rily , \' el'llcily, : fillel ily , j ns tice, (' lInity , I1c1i glrtin~ in mnldng all thiugs equitllhle lImong


I'ighleousness. W e :.;, i\' e Ih e~ nanl es to ppcn- t. lrem. Eqnity hilS a wid " r mnge t. hl1nju sli <: e;


liar lII11nifesla lihn s of these Iwo grRlul sellti · for whe re as juslice gunI'd!! and main tilins Ihe


lIIelll s. ' flu'y 111' 0 mod;, s in whidl hen evo- exer: lIlion of prescriptive law liS it exists, for


' Ielll: e nnd faolin ess demonst rate themsel ves un- tfae lilli e bein g, equily goesbchind rhe IlIw it-del'


cfJrtnin l~ i !, l~ n l " s l! lI l ces . Thus love is he - sell ; div es in lo Ihe very nlluft- e of Ihings, qUIII-ncvolenl"


e, IIlllllife sling nn IIc tiv e y t; lIl' 1ling af- ifies Ihi: IIIW, Irie s its derails hy fir st principles,


fecti on, s tre td lillg itsel( filrth an d ~ lIl h ,' a~ i n g ' nnd lIlod ifi" s its lIelll'in !? s so as to meet th"


th e I~ realllre with parelltllI re gllrd. " God is most dillit: ult cases. Equity in sist s on lill e


lov e ." li e lov (' s a ll hi ~ erentu l'lJs, lind III'f! fmt- tr elltlll ent of like subjects. It demnnds inlll: ll'-


ly sl'eks , til eir go od . ' Belltificellce is hen evfl · tillli! y in d ispensil'g grll ce ntlll lIler" y, as well


len ee "" Iua ll}' ( louring out blessin gs o n dell en- li S pnnishment allli reword. It ahhor s 1' nrl~ nl-de


' nt erealn l'es , pl'lw irlin g , fiJI' lind ellr ic h ing ily . in doin~ good 10 th e unrl esen'in l!, as wcll


Ih eill . God is goo, l IIlltOnil ; he op en cth his as in judging th e eq ually de" el'vin l;. God is


11lI11I1 to s: llis( v Ih e Ilt~ sire or e l'e ry li vin g thing: eq ua l in all hi s wllYs; a God of llP. rfel: t nnd


Killlin ess is b t'/ Il~ vo l ell " e ~~ n tly co ndesc end - infinite ef, lnily , in nil his deulill gs. Righteolls"


ing to IIss iSl, enc o u rll!! e. hefi'iend nnd make / less is holiness IIhhorring all mllnner of wrong'


glad those iu : 111 hUrT. hlfJ nJIlI infi: r ior cond itio ll nnd wi cllcdness- lInd '! eli g- fa linl{ supremely in


of ,' xislelwe, A ll heiu1! s nrc in feriOr" tn Gn tl · tfac pr:((' l il ~ e ofllil thllt is l- iglrt in e \' e ry I' 0ssi-lie


i, oj k ind to a ll in lI u lll he rl ,~ >;" rCRpect s , cven - I, I" respeel. Ri ghtcou _ ness is Iwlinl'ss ~ i n


10 tim uUlh ankfil1 a ni! evil. He nce the 1' "" lllI - pral: til'lIloper: nion in a ll its bearin g's nnd 1'''' 11-


ist ex clnillls-" lIow f~ x eell cut is th y lu\' in g tio n ~ . Tile righleousuess of God .! tlvlliopes


k ind llcss, 0 God! ' fh ere f1Jr e the ch illlre u or' ilse lf iu Ihe' exercise ofall his p. H\,,,' I'S and Sen -


No. 9.


tirnents, ju st in that manner which infinite


wisdom determines is lIeSI- ot all times, with,


reference to all heings, to all eternity. Thus


God lov es, bless es, shows kindness, is gracious,


pitiful, compassionate, merciful, pure, sincere,


true, fhithful. just, eqnituble, righteolls- wilb­out


frailty, error, defect or change.


These peculiar mauife sunlons of henevo­lenee


and holiness might se em at first view to


conflict with each other, especially justice and


lIIerey. But a close exarniuution will , show.


tlmt they are all in perfect harmony. It ill


only hY J\' i~ wing them disconnected trom


ea ch other, or through a false medium, that we


make them appear mutually repugnant. Let


us e xamine justice and mercy. Justice abhors


1111 Irausgressioll. ofthe morul law, demands its


str ic t enforcement, and insists that ils authori­ty


shall he maintained unimpuired, without re­spect


' of persou- c As hilS been figuratively


represented, it s tands with o · drawn sword, 10


ex ecule and suslaiu the law. , Mercy pitiell the


gnilty, oud seeks til IIvert fi'om them the stern


simtence oflaw hy a pardon. It steps in he ­tween


Ihe swo ~, 1 ofjustictlltnd its victim, and


wilh teur s enlrellts filr the guilt},. ' Veil, whllt


does jU8tice de11111 11; 1? not '! Iere punisilluent


for ' it s own sakt, It dellll, tndl!' that the Ituthor-il}'


of th e law ~ hull he preserved inviolate; OliO


it insi sts 011 the ex eclltion of Ihe penally 8S the


, on ly means, with which it has been enlrusted,


fill' the IIIl1intenance of Ihe low. If thi" eud


can hc seeured hy allY other mcans, it is ready


lind willin g. Now what does mercy dellJRnd?


lIot Ihe mere snspension 01' lIVerSiOll oflhe pen­alrr-


not the detriment or'lhe law- not the


suhver siou ofilS alllhority. No- it aMents to


the ! IIW: it 100' es the law; it ncknowledges t! 1l1


rt: elillldc of Ihe Inw"; it owus the guilt of Ihe


olfendc~ i it l: onfesses Ihe rightful sway ofjulI­lic


e; bUI it loves the creature who has dec­~


rv,! l d \ 0 s! l tre r,., § o in!, elJ.' illJJ, lIn. llI. ities ilion in


wl'el ch eflll ess so pr ufilnndly, 111111 feels such a


!: ompllss illn fi'r Ililll, thaI il c"'. lIll1t refr" in from


inte rpos iul! un his helwlf. And now it pro­puses


his sal\' ution fi'olll Ihe illlpt.' nding stroke,


hy vi~ lII e of1\ pard~ o. .


lI er e let us I: nr el'lIl1y ohserve thllt justice


tl r. s Ilot Ilesire mer'! ( l1ll; ishlJlc ;; t j it " nly Wllllt,.


th'e IIIW s.;' stllined. Neither t1oe~ lIIercy seek


tf) im plli r th e IIIW ; it 011 1)' plelldfl for the slllva­tioll


of th e sill iH: r. t\ II th ell which is wllnli ll ~'


I '


in order , to th e perfel~ t 1, lIrmony ofjllllti.: e nlld


IlIfln: y in th is " nse, i. II melllls whereby th"


si nne r I'lln he slIved , Willlolll impairing Ih e / 1 11 ­tho


ri t)- of lhe law. ' ' fhl' lI justice und rIlen'y


reJoicwl ogelher,- olltl Ihlll th e law remains ill ­"


i oilltf~, lIlItI t to ll 011", 1' ih IItlhe ohject of its Inve


nlllll; ilY hilS bee n sllvell. JlIstice is not ~ ruel ,


, iy ;, lIeitlwr is lIIerl: y rebellion. They are


IIlike r1 ev" terl to 1II0rai ortl er lind hapllinell8. ­We


f~ oll clurie Ihen , tlllit God never execlllt'. 11


the s flveriri ell of juslice 011 any crealureto


who/ ll lII en~ y clln he " hown wilhout endlln­gerill~


rhe , a nthorily of his Jaw; and on the


other- h and , thai he ' ne \' er extends his pordon ­in~


IIIf~ rcy to IIny ~ uihy creature under cir­I'lIlJ1stallces


illcolisist ent \..- ilh the prolllotion


of IIniversal holilles.~ . III his infinite wisdom


he ulways excreisell his jnstil'e and morcy in


sllch a milliner as t, o slltisfy th em hOlh. They


are hoth ' lIeCfJssary 1IJ the perfection of his


goodness . Jl1eu j U! ltice without me~ cy would


unintentionally di sp en se nothing hilt seve~ ity.


. Uere mercy withom juslice would unirit. en-,


io, nlllly suh" ert the moral order of the uni ~


verse., BUI hoth, in harmony work Ilerfectio~ ,


So i!! it with nlllhe manifeslations ofbene\' o-,


lellce and holines~. S een in sulnted, or falsely


" ontmsted, they IIIl1y appear contradictory; ­Rllt


deliberately viewe( I, in theit natural con­nection


allIl order, th ey display the sublime


bellll1y ofn h/ trmollious allligloriouil whole.


Thlls IlIIve we 11' God of infinite power,


gllid ed by infinite . wisdom, lInd exhihiting i~ ti­nitA


I; oorln ess. It is . his supreme rlelighl to


tlless, to illlpltrt good, 10 cOlllfllunicllte hllllpi­n'e"


s ; nnd ) o'l! t equllily his rleligllt to do all this


i!. sud l a lI1anner liS 10 promote . tire purfst aud


highes t riwml rectiturle- so as never to eu­~


o n rge sill ulIlledt. Linnl) your eyes'; look


npon IIIis teeming earth; see its slI rfltce swarm ­in


g with s elliienl beings; glance It thought lit

Page 33 of Volume 1 from The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840