5. Mercy: "Mercy" as an attribute of God is in a class with Truth and Justice and Holiness. A God without compassion—only another name for mercy—would be a monstrosity. No, God must be Merciful! Else what shall become of man? God not merciful! It is unthinkable, that is all. The quality of Mercy as an attribute of God is not strained;
"It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest;
It blesses him that gives, and him that takes;
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
* * * It is an attribute to God himself!"
"Mercy and truth shall go before his face," is the testimony of the Psalmist.[A] "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, Merciful and gracious."[B] "But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful."[C]
[Footnote A: Psalms lxxxix:14.]
[Footnote B: Ex. xxxiv:6.]
[Footnote C: Neh. ix:17.]
6. Love: Love! the crowning glory of all the attributes of God! We may revel in this attribute. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is Love!"[A] "God is Love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."[B] "Every one that loveth is born of God."[C] "In this was manifested the Love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins."[D]
[Footnote A: I John iv:8.]
[Footnote B: I John iv:16.]
[Footnote C: St. John iii:16.]