2. The mercy of God, which considers its object as miserable, is illustrated by all those distressing circumstances, that render sinners the objects of compassion. Are all, by nature, bond-slaves to sin and Satan? It is mercy that sets them free, _delivers them, who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage_, Heb. ii. 15. Are we all, by nature, dead in sin, unable to do what is spiritually good, alienated from the life of God? Was our condition miserable, as being without God in the world, and without hope: like the poor infant, mentioned by the prophet, _cast out in the open field, to the loathing of our persons, whom no eye pitied?_ it was mercy that _said to us, live_, Ezek. xvi. 4, 5, 6. accordingly God is said _to have remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endureth for ever_, Psal. cxxxvi. 23. The mercy of God is either common or special; common mercy gives all the outward conveniencies of this life, which are bestowed without distinction; as _he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust_, Matth. v. 45. so it is said, _his tender mercies are over all his works_, Psal. cxlv. 9. but his special mercy is that which he bestows on, or has reserved for the heirs of salvation, which he communicates to them in a covenant way, in and through a Mediator; so the apostle speaks of _God, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort_, 2 Cor. i. 3. 3. As God is said to be merciful, or to extend compassion to the miserable, so he doth this freely, and accordingly is said to be gracious; and as grace is free, so it is sovereign, and bestowed in a discriminating way; that is given to one which he denies to another, and only because it is his pleasure: thus says one of Christ’s disciples, _Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?_ John xiv. 22. And our Saviour himself glorifies God for the display of his grace, in such a way, when he says, _I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes_; and considers this as the result of his sovereign will, when he adds, _even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight_, Matth. xi. 25, 26. Now the discriminating grace of God appears in several instances; as,