Anf-03 v.iv.iii.xvii Pg 10
2 Sam. xii. 13.
which also restored the house of Israel as often as it condemned it, and addressed to it consolation no less frequently than reproof. Do not therefore look at God simply as Judge, but turn your attention also to examples of His conduct as the Most Good.2906 2906 Optimi.
Noting Him, as you do, when He takes vengeance, consider Him likewise when He shows mercy.2907 2907 Indulget.
In the scale, against His severity place His gentleness. When you shall have discovered both qualities to co-exist in the Creator, you will find in Him that very circumstance which induces you to think there is another God. Lastly, come and examine into His doctrine, discipline, precepts, and counsels. You will perhaps say that there are equally good prescriptions in human laws. But Moses and God existed before all your Lycurguses and Solons. There is not one after-age2908 2908 Posteritas.
which does not take from primitive sources. At any rate, my Creator did not learn from your God to issue such commandments as: Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt not covet what is thy neighbour’s; honour thy father and thy mother; and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. To these prime counsels of innocence, chastity, and justice, and piety, are also added prescriptions of humanity, as when every seventh year slaves are released for liberty;2909 2909
Anf-03 v.iv.v.x Pg 13
2 Sam. xii. 13.
how king Ahab in like manner, the husband of Jezebel, guilty of idolatry and of the blood of Naboth, obtained pardon because of his repentance;3772 3772
Anf-03 v.iv.vi.xi Pg 12
2 Sam. xii. 13.
—preferring, indeed, the sinner’s repentance to his death, of course because of His gracious attribute of mercy.5689 5689
Anf-01 ii.ii.lvi Pg 6
Ps. cxli. 5.
And again he saith, “Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproveth, and reject not thou the warning of the Almighty. For He causes sorrow, and again restores [to gladness]; He woundeth, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in the seventh no evil shall touch thee. In famine He shall rescue thee from death, and in war He shall free thee from the power252 252 Literally, “hand.”
of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide thee, and thou shalt not fear when evil cometh. Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and the wicked, and shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with thee: then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace, and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not fail.253 253 Literally, “err” or “sin.”
Thou shall know also that thy seed shall be great, and thy children like the grass of the field. And thou shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing-floor which is gathered together at the proper time.”254 254
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 16
VERSE (10) - 2Ch 25:16; 26:19 2Sa 12:13; 24:10-14 Ps 141:5 Pr 9:7-9
