Mercy is built up forever

____________________Mt. Rainier_____________________

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Prov. 31:26).

“In this time of special danger for the young, temptations surround them on every hand; and while it is easy to drift, the strongest effort is required in order to press against the current. Every school should be a “city of refuge” for the tempted youth, a place where their follies shall be dealt with patiently and wisely. Teachers who understand their responsibilities will separate from their own hearts and lives everything that would prevent them from dealing successfully with the willful and disobedient. Love and tenderness, patience and self-control, will at all times be the law of their speech. Mercy and compassion will be blended with justice. When it is necessary to give reproof, their language will not be exaggerated, but humble. In gentleness they will set before the wrongdoer his errors and help him to recover himself. Every true teacher will feel that should he err at all, it is better to err on the side of mercy than on the side of severity
Many youth who are thought incorrigible are not at heart so hard as they appear. Many who are regarded as hopeless may be reclaimed by wise discipline. These are often the ones who most readily melt under kindness. Let the teacher gain the confidence of the tempted one, and by recognizing and developing the good in his character, he can, in many cases, correct the evil without calling attention to it.” Education, p. 293.


“No rules for all [baby] children can be given as to the progressive steps in these changes. Parents must view the wants of their children by the best light they have. When all act upon the best light they can obtain, it can hardly be expected that all mistakes will be avoided, but it is safest and best for the cause of reform, to err, if err we must, on the side of custom, rather than on the side of extreme change.” Review and Herald, April 14, 1868 par. 6.

“We don’t make the health reform an iron bedstead, cutting people off or stretching them out to fit it. One person cannot be a standard for everybody else. What we want is a little sprinkling of good common sense. Don’t be extremists. If you err, it would be better to err on the side of the people than on the side where you cannot reach them. Do not be peculiar for the sake of being peculiar. Away with cake. Persons may kill themselves with sweets. More harm is done to children by sweets than by anything else. The best food that I have obtained is the rolls.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, No. 12.

“If you err, let it not be in getting as far from the people as possible, for then you cut the thread of your influence and can do them no good. Better err on the side of the people than altogether away from them, for there is hope in that case that you can carry the people with you, but there is no need of error on either side.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 211.


“Keep back that disposition to crowd out a brother, even if you think him unworthy, even if he has hindered your work by manifesting a spirit of independence and willfulness. Remember that he is God’s property. Err always on the side of mercy and tenderness. Treat with respect and deference even your most bitter enemies, who would injure you if they could. Let not a word escape your lips that would give them opportunity to justify their course in the least degree. Give no occasion to any man to blaspheme the name of God or speak disrespectfully of our faith for anything you have done. We need to be wise as the serpent, and harmless as the dove.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1884 par. 10.


“There is more meant by “being on the Lord’s side” than merely saying so in meeting. The Lord’s side is ever the side of mercy, pity, and sympathy for the suffering, as will be seen by the example given us in the life of Jesus. We are required to imitate His example. But there are some who are not on the Lord’s side in regard to these things; they are on the side of the enemy.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 518.


“‘As the work advances,’ she said June 6, 1914, ‘our brethren are to see and understand that they are to advance and increase in liberality. Every man is to be judged according to his works. Tell the brethren that if they err at all, let it be on the side of liberality, and not on the side of restraint. Because, as they restrict, they are developing traits of character not favorable to religious growth. Our work should be more generous, broad, and favorable as it advances.’” Pamphlet 116, p. 30.


“It is not yet too late to redeem the neglects of the past. Let there be a revival of the first love, the first ardor. Search out the ones you have driven away, bind up by confession the wounds you have made. Come close to the great Heart of pitying love, and let the current of that divine compassion flow into your heart and from you to the hearts of others. Let the tenderness and mercy that Jesus has revealed in His own precious life be an example to us of the manner in which we should treat our fellow beings, especially those who are our brethren in Christ. Many have fainted and become discouraged in the great struggle of life, whom one word of kindly cheer and courage would have strengthened to overcome. Never, never become heartless, cold, unsympathetic, and censorious. Never lose an opportunity to say a word to encourage and inspire hope. We cannot tell how far-reaching may be our tender words of kindness, our Christlike efforts to lighten some burden. The erring can be restored in no other way than in the spirit of meekness, gentleness, and tender love.

Wouldst thou an erring soul redeem,
And lead a lost one back to God?
Wouldst thou a guardian angel seem
To one who long in guilt has trod?
Go kindly to him, take his hand,
With gentle words, within thine own,
And by his side a brother stand,
Till thou the demon sin dethrone.

Scorn not the guilty then, but plead
With him in kindest, gentlest mood,
And back the lost one thou mayst lead
To God, humanity, and good.
Thou art thyself but man, and thou
Art weak, perchance to fall as he;
Then mercy to the fallen show,
That mercy may be shown to thee.”


“While we were yet unloving and unlovely in character, “hateful, and hating one another,” our heavenly Father had mercy on us. “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:3-5. His love received, will make us, in like manner, kind and tender, not merely toward those who please us, but to the most faulty and erring and sinful.” Thought from the Mount of Blessing, p. 75.

“Who can understand His errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” (Ps. 19:12).

“That He [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [us, His church] with the washing of water by the word.” (Eph 5:26). As we hear and behold the Lamb of God, His mercy and love, and hear of the law of kindness in the lives of those who have been sanctified and washed, we are cleansed and washed by the word.

In Daniel’s patience with Nebuchadnezzar’s abrasive harsh temper, in Abel’s fatal work to woo Cain away from worshiping his own works, in David’s longsuffering for his revered king and beloved father-in-law, in Abigail’s mediation for Nabal before the retribution of David, in Moses’ and Paul’s undying care for the people of God’s movement to change and bless the world, exemplified the principle of mercy, and there were so many others.

But, especially, and infinitely more so, towering above all these champions of faith and love like Mt. Rainier over the peaks of its surrounding mountains, Christ has shown us mercy. His longsuffering for His disciples of the New Testament, as well as for His erring people of the Old Testament, far exceeds all of His starry hosts of His great cloud of witnesses who He had sanctified and made fit representatives of Himself.

“Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” (Ps. 36:5-12).

“Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” (Ps. 31:9,10).

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” (Ps. 52:8).

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let Thy glory be above all the earth.” (Ps. 57:7-11).

“But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Ps. 86:15).

“For I have said, mercy shall be built up for ever: Thy faithfulness shalt Thou establish in the very heavens….
Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face….
But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted….
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.” (Ps. 89:2,14,24,28).

“O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Ps. 90:14).

“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22,23).

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.” (Ps. 94:16-19).

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy….
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.…
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children.” (Ps. 103:8,11,17).

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.” (Ps. 107:1).

“The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy: teach me Thy statutes.” (Ps. 119:64).

“Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.” (Ps. 130:7).

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever.
To Him who alone doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth for ever.
To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: for His mercy endureth for ever.
To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for His mercy endureth for ever.
To Him that made great lights: for His mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for His mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for His mercy endureth for ever.…
Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth for ever:
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endureth for ever.” (Ps. 136:1-9,23-26).

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” (Ps. 150:6).