(1.) How the truth of God may be proved by reason. _First_, from his Benevolence. _Second_, from his Independence and Immutability. _Third_, from the excellence of truth and the turpitude of falsehood. _Fourth_, from the estimation in which truth is held by the intelligent creatures he has made. (2.) How proved from the Scriptures. _First_, by direct declarations. Exod. 34:6, l.c. Ps. 117:2. 146:6, l.c. _Second_, by the accordance of the histories recorded in Scripture with the facts substantiated by other evidence. _Third_, by the predictions of events which have since been fulfilled. _Fourth_, from the doctrines contained in his Word. _Fifth_, by the agreement of Scripture with itself. _Sixth_, by the fulfilment of promises, threatenings, covenants, &c., recorded in his Word. _Seventh_, other proofs, as they may be suggested to the mind. _Practical Reflections._ (1.) How God is qualified by this attribute to be the moral governor of intelligent creatures. (2.) How necessary is faith to acceptance with God. Heb. 11:6. (3.) How odious to a God of infinite veracity must be the sin of _unbelief_. 1 John 5:10. (4.) How terrible to the wicked this renders the threatenings of God's word. (5.) How valuable his promises to the righteous. (6.) At what an infinite expense God has sustained his truth, while pardoning rebels doomed to die. Ps. 85:10. Rom. 3:26. 8. _The Mercy of God._ (1.) What mercy is. (2.) Contemplate mercy as a disposition inherent in the Divine character. (3.) The only way in which mercy can be exercised by Him, towards those who have merited anger and punishment, consistent with the moral rectitude of his character, and the great ends of his government. Ps. 85:10. Isa. 53:5, 6, 10. Acts 4:12. 5:31. Rom. 3:25, 26. (4.) How this attribute is manifested in his providence. Matt. 5:45. (5.) How in his Word. Neh. 9:17. Ps. 3:8. Matt. 5:7. Rom. 5:6. (These two may embrace several subdivisions.) (6.) Consider whether by the light of nature we could discover any possible way for God to exercise mercy towards the guilty. _Practical Reflections._ (1.) The loveliness and glory of this attribute. (2.) How we should feel in view of it. Ps. 118. (3.) The great guilt and danger of indulging an unmerciful or cruel disposition. Prov. 11:17, l.c. 21:13. Mark 11:26. Jas. 2:13. (4.) The advantage of being merciful. Ps. 18:25. Prov. 11:17, f.c. Matt. 5:7. Mark 11:25.