John Hales was at the Synod of Dort. Here he deals with erring Christians. He insists that there is no sort of person, of any job type, whether a heathen and idolater, for whom they are not fully entitled to be embraced by the “skirts of Christian compassion.”
Pretty simple advice. In today’s world, are we dishing out discompassion with abandon, while snooping for errantness to justify it?
How can you put Hales’ idea into practice?
John Downame, English Puritan, considers who’s worthy of mercy from a Christian. It extends to all in need. To infidels because they are God’s creatures, to our enemies because we look to what God has commanded us. To poor Christians because they are children of God and members of Christ.
Today, do we want to limit mercy? To say that mercy for strangers (let alone enemies) derelicts duty to family?
How can you exercise mercy today?
Greg Johnson