Question 11

What is not God mercifull also?

Yes truly: he is merciful : but so he is iust too^a . Therefore his iustice requireth to haue that punished with extreame, that is, with euerlasting punishment of soule and bodie, whatsoeuer is committed against the soueraigne maiestie of God.^b

The vse

The vse and consideration of the mercie of God in generall, as it ought to keepe vs in affiance to call vpon him, and to hope, and certainly look for saluation from him: finally, to set on fire in vs the loue of him: so his righteousnes and iustice is set before vs to this end, that it may be as a bridle to vs to keepe vs from sinne, perswading vs, that except wee repent, although God for a time suffer vs to carie away our sins without punishment, yet it shal not alwaies be so, but at the last, he will take most bitter and most iust punishment vpon vs: But in this place wee may consider of them both. 1. That wee despair not of deliuerance from our euils, because God is exceeding merciful: 2. That we abuse not his mercie and so deceiue our selues, because he is also exceeding iust. 3. That wee seriouslie and diligentlie consider, by what meanes God will haue his iustice satisfied, that so wee may be reconciled vnto him, and may obtain sound comfort, both in life and in death.