Editorial March 3, 1923 Issue

"Blessed are the merciful"

Duncan Sinclair

There is ineffable sweetness in the fifth beatitude, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." It is a divine utterance; one that could have fallen only from inspired lips. It contains a perfectly crystallized statement of what the Christian's attitude should be toward his fellow-men. In giving utterance to it the Master showed forth his own magnanimity; for in all the words of divine wisdom he spake he gave expression to the virtues, the spiritual qualities, which animated his own life. And as in his case, so in ours, we can at any time but give expression to what we understand. When free to circulate, water will always seek its own level, but never rise above it.

Mercifulness is one of the finest traits in Christian character. And as every real quality belongs to God, it must therefore be reflected by man. That it is a divine attribute was made plain by Christ Jesus in his address to the twelve disciples after he had chosen them. He said to them then: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. ... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Here, as in the beatitude quoted above, it is announced that mercy shall be the reward of mercifulness. And does not Paul also speak of "God, who is rich in mercy"? Indeed, throughout the entire Bible the same note rings; everywhere, there is heard the wondrous truth of the mercy of God. Does not this mean that God had been revealed to mankind as divine Love, which Christian Science declares Him to be?

God is merciful, because God is Love. And those among mankind who are striving to be obedient to their highest understanding of God are endeavoring to be merciful in all their dealings with humanity. How well the old proverb expresses the position: "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart"! And in more modern times has not Shakespeare summed up the situation when he says of mercy:—

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