Mercy and Justice by R. F. C.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 15.

Mercy and Justice

By R. F. C.

MERCY has nothing to do with innocent beings. Where no guilt is, there can be no mercy. It is no mercy in a ruler, that he does not imprison his innocent subject; for there would be no justice in the act. Mercy is pardoning power, or favor shown to guilty men. The innocent do not need it; for mercy always implies ill-desert in those who receive it. If it would be unjust to cast men into hell, it is no mercy to save them from it. What have men to do with mercy who can claim exemption from hell on the ground of justice? R. F. C.