timfost
Puritan Board Senior
"My brethren, though God is just, yet his mercy may be in some respect to be more natural to him than all acts of justice itself that God doth shew, I mean vindicative justice; in them there is a satisfaction to an attribute, in that he meets and is even with sinners; yet notwithstanding there is a kind of violence done to himself in it, the Scripture so expresseth it; there is something in it that is contrary to him. And so many interpret that place, “I will not the death of a sinner;” that is, I delight not simply in it, I will not do it animi causa, for pleasure’s sake, because I delight in the thing (as those that are of the “Remonstrants” opinion slander the other party, that they make God to delight in the death of a sinner). No; when he exerciseth acts of justice, it is for a higher end, it is not simply for the thing itself; there is always something in his heart against it. But when he comes to shew mercy, to manifest that it is his nature and disposition, it is said that he doth it with his whole heart; there is nothing at all in him that is against it, the act itself pleaseth him for itself, there is no reluctancy in him. Therefore, in Lam. 3:33, when he speaks of punishing, he saith, “He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” But when he comes to speak of shewing mercy, he saith he doth do it “with his whole heart, and with his whole soul;” so the expression is, Jer. 32:41. And therefore acts of justice, you know, are called opus alienum, his “strange work,” and his “strange act,” in Isa. 28:21. But when he comes to shew mercy, he rejoices over them, to do them good, with his whole heart, and with his whole soul; as it is in that Jer. 32:41."
Thomas Goodwin, excerpt taken from The Riches of God’s Love to His Elect
Thomas Goodwin, excerpt taken from The Riches of God’s Love to His Elect