“‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy,’ (Matthew 5:7). Mercy is a commiserating of another man’s misery in our hearts, or a sorrow for another man’s distress, or a heart-grieving for another man’s grief, arising out of an unfeigned love unto the party afflicted.
Or more plainly thus: mercy is a pitying of another man’s misery, with a desire and endeavor to help him to the uttermost of our ability. The Hebrew for godly, חסד, chasid, signifies gracious, merciful.
The more godly any man is, the more merciful that man will be. ‘Blessed are the merciful,’ that is, blessed are they that show mercy to others, out of a deep sense of the mercy of God to them in Christ.
Blessed are such who show mercy out of love to mercy, out of a delight in mercy.
Blessed are such as show mercy out of love and obedience to the God of mercy.
Blessed are such as show mercy to men in misery, upon the account of the image of God, the glory of God that is stamped upon them.
Blessed are such as extend their piety and mercy, not only to men’s bodies, but also to their precious and immortal souls.
Soul-mercy is the chief of mercies. The soul is the most precious jewel in all the world; it is a vessel of honour, it is a spark of glory, it is a bud of eternity, it is the price of blood, it is beautified with the image of God, it is adorned with the grace of God, and it is clothed with the righteousness of God.
Such are blessed as show mercy to others, from gracious motives and considerations.
It is free mercy that every day keeps Hell and my soul asunder.
It is mercy that daily pardons my sins.
It is mercy that supplies all my inward and outward wants.
It is mercy that preserves, and feeds, and clothes my outward man.
It is mercy that renews, strengthens, and prospers my inward man.
It is mercy that has kept me many times from committing such and such sins.
It is mercy that has kept me many a time from falling before such and such temptations.
It is mercy that has many a time preserved me from being swallowed up by such and such inward and outward afflictions.
Such as show mercy out of a design to exalt and glorify the God of mercy, such who show most mercy to them to whom God shows most mercy: these are blessed, and shall obtain mercy.”
–Thomas Brooks, “A Cabinet of Jewels,” The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, Volume 3, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert, 1866), 271-272.
